System and method of generating digital apparel size measurements

ABSTRACT

A novel and useful system and method for measuring an article of clothing (AOC) that may include one or more of an apparel expander (AE) having an expansion chamber configured to be inserted into a cavity of the AOC and to receive an operating fluid (OPF), a fluid distribution unit (FDU) coupled to the AE and configured to control a supply of the OPF to, or from, the apparel expander, a sensor configured to detect contours of the AE when at least a portion of the AE is situated within the cavity of the AOC and form corresponding sensor information, and a controller configured to control the FDU to supply the OPF to the AE to expand the AE when at least a portion of the AE is situated within the cavity of AOC, obtain the sensor information from the sensor, reconstruct a three-dimensional (3D) model of the AOC based upon the detected contours of the AE obtained from the sensor information, and form digital size information (DSI) including information related to the reconstructed three-dimensional model.

REFERENCE TO PRIORITY APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/819,543, filed on Mar. 16, 2019, entitled “DigiSize And VirtualAlterations: System And Methods To Reduce Apparel Trials And Returns DueTo Undesirable Fitting,” the contents of which are incorporated hereinby reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to size measuring and fittingarticles of clothing and in particular to an apparatus and method forgenerating digital size measurements for articles of clothing and amethod of fitting articles of clothing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are two main types of channels which a consumer may use topurchase ready-made clothing: brick and mortar sales channels (e.g.,using physical stores) and online sales channels (e.g., Internetchannels using online stores). In both types of sales channels, theconsumer may select an article of clothing based upon one or morefactors such as specified size (e.g., size 1, 2, 3 . . . or S, M, L, XL,. . . as may be indicated on a size label of an apparel) and the like.Unfortunately, specified sizes are selected by a manufacturer ofclothing and typically do not correspond with industry-wide standard. Assuch, specified sizes may vary based upon brand, manufacturer, etc.,making it difficult to determine an exact fit. Further, as conventionalclothing is to some extent hand-made or hand-assembled, variations inphysical size from item-to-item may vary widely and may be difficult tocontrol without adequate and quality control measures which are costlyand time-consuming. For these reasons and others indicated clothing sizemay not accurately reflect actual sizes of clothing. Lastly, existingsizing methods do not convey information related to elasticity ofarticles of clothing which information may be desirable to a user to useto find determine a correct fit.

For these reasons and others, conventional sizing methods for clothingmay only provide a first cut approximation of clothing dimensions anddoes not provide an indication as to how an article of clothing will fitshoppers with a multitude of body shapes and/or sizes. Accordingly,information conveyed by conventional sizing methods is limited,inadequate, non-standard, confusing, and unreliable. This may make itdifficult for shoppers to select clothing by size with certainty. Often,to find a correct fit, shoppers must typically try on several articlesof clothing and may select to purchase only one of them. This mayinconvenience shoppers as well as increase costs incurred by vendors.For example, vendors with physical stores may incur additional costs dueto fitting rooms and associated personnel which are necessary formonitoring fitting rooms and returning clothes that were tried on by ashopper and not purchased. Further, online vendors may incur additionalcosts due to returns and associated shipping charges for clothing thatwas tried on by a shopper and returned because of an incorrect fit.Unfortunately, this may increase costs to merchants and mayinconvenience the consumer. Additionally, clothing that is shipped tothe consumer to be tried on during a trial period is tied up and are notavailable for sale to other consumers during this trial period. Further,as clothing styles may be seasonal, a delay in access for sale mayresult in apparel going out-of-style or out-of-season which may resultin a loss of value.

Accordingly, it is desirable to have a sizing method which may moreaccurately reflect sizing and/or fit of an article of clothing as wellas a system which may accurately determine at least one correctlyfitting article of clothing that may be recommended to a consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with embodiments of the present system, there is provideda system and method for measuring an article of clothing (AOC) thatincludes one or more of: an apparel expander (AE) having at least oneexpansion chamber configured to be inserted into at least one cavity ofthe AOC and to receive an operating fluid (OPF); a fluid distributionunit (FDU) coupled to the AE and configured to control a supply of theOPF to, or from, the apparel expander; at least one sensor configured todetect contours of the AE when at least a portion of the AE is situatedwithin the at least one cavity of the AOC and form corresponding sensorinformation; and at least one controller configured to: control the FDUto supply the OPF to the AE to expand the AE when at least a portion ofthe AE is situated within the at least one cavity of AOC; obtain thesensor information from the at least one sensor; reconstruct athree-dimensional (3D) model of the at least one AOC based upon thedetected contours of the AE obtained from the sensor information; andform digital size information (DSI) including information related to thereconstructed three-dimensional model.

It is envisioned that the at least one controller may be configured torender the reconstructed three-dimensional model on a rendering deviceof the system. It is also envisioned that the at least one controllermay be configured to control the FDU to supply the OPF to the AE whilesimultaneously controlling the at least one sensor to detect thecontours of the AE and form the corresponding sensor information. Insome embodiments, the at least one controller may be configured tocontrol one or more actuators to control a position of the at least oneAOC and the at least one sensor relative to at least one of the other ofthe at least one AOC and the at least one sensor. It is envisioned thatthe at least one controller may be configured to control the FDU tosupply the OPF to the AE to expand the AE when it is within the at leastone AOC.

In some embodiments, the at least one controller may be configured tocontrol the FDU to withdraw the OPF from the AE. It is also envisionedthat the at least one controller may be configured to form digital sizecertificate information (DSCI) comprising the DSI and identificationinformation of the at least one AOC. In some embodiments, the at leastone controller many be configured to store the DSCI in association witha profile of a user in a memory.

In accordance with embodiments of the present system, there is alsoprovided a method for measuring an article of clothing (AOC) may becontrolled by at least one controller, and may include one or more actsof: inserting an apparel expander (AE) having at least one expansionchamber into at least one cavity of the AOC; detecting contours of theAE using at least one sensor, when at least a portion of the AE isinserted into the at least one cavity of the AOC and formingcorresponding sensor information; controlling a fluid distribution unit(FDU) to supply an operating fluid (OPF) to the AE to expand the AE whenat least a portion of the AE is inserted within the at least one cavityof AOC; reconstructing a three-dimensional (3D) model of the at leastone AOC based upon the detected contours of the AE obtained from thesensor information; and forming digital size information (DSI) includinginformation related to the reconstructed three-dimensional model.

It is also envisioned that the method may include one or more acts ofrendering the reconstructed three-dimensional model on a renderingdevice of the system; and controlling the FDU to supply the OPF to theAE while simultaneously controlling the at least one sensor to detectthe contours of the AE and form the corresponding sensor information. Insome embodiments, the method may include an act of controlling one ormore actuators to control a position of at least one of the at least oneAOC and the at least one sensor relative to at least one of the other ofthe at least one AOC and the at least one sensor. The method may furtherinclude an act of controlling the FDU to supply the OPF to the AE toexpand the AE when it is within the at least one AOC. In someembodiments, the method may further include an act of controlling theFDU to withdraw the OPF from the AE. It is further envisioned that themethod may further include an act of forming digital size certificateinformation (DSCI) comprising the DSI and identification information ofthe at least one AOC. In some embodiments, the method may furtherinclude an act of storing the DSCI in association with a profile of auser in a memory.

In some embodiments, there is further provided a system for measuring anarticle of clothing (AOC). The system may include one or more of: anapparel expander (AE) having at least one expansion chamber configuredto be inserted into at least one cavity of the AOC and to receive anoperating fluid (OPF); a fluid distribution unit (FDU) coupled to the AEand configured to control a supply of the OPF to, or from, the apparelexpander; a support coupled to the at least one AOC and configured tocontrol a position of the AOC; at least one controller configured to:control the FDU to supply the OPF to the AE to expand the AE when atleast a portion of the AE is situated within the at least one cavity ofAOC; obtain the sensor information from at least one sensor configuredto detect contours of the AE when at least a portion of the AE issituated within the at least one cavity of the AOC; reconstruct athree-dimensional (3D) model of the at least one AOC based upon thedetected contours of the AE obtained from the sensor information; andform digital size information (DSI) including information related to thereconstructed three-dimensional model.

In some embodiments, the at least one controller may be configured torender the reconstructed three-dimensional model on a rendering deviceof the system. It is envisioned that the at least one controller may beconfigured to control the FDU to supply the OPF to the AE whilesimultaneously controlling the at least one sensor to detect thecontours of the AE and may form the corresponding sensor information. Itis further envisioned that the at least one controller may be configuredto control one or more actuators to control the support to position ofthe at least one AOC relative to the at least one sensor.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription section. This Summary is not intended to identify keyfeatures or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is itintended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimedsubject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is explained in further detail in the followingexemplary embodiments and with reference to the figures, where identicalor similar elements may be partly indicated by the same or similarreference numerals, and the features of various exemplary embodimentsbeing combinable. The invention is herein described, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portion of a digiforming system inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2A shows a block diagram of a portion of an FDU in accordance witha third second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B a block diagram of a portion of an FDU in accordance with athird embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2C is a block diagram of a portion of an FDU in accordance with athird embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2D a block diagram of a portion of an FDU in accordance with afourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a detailed block diagram of a portion of a digiformingsystem including a feeder line-type apparel positioning system inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a detailed top view of a portion of a feeder linedigiforming system including a plurality of feeder lines in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a detailed front top perspective view of a portion of thesystem of FIG. 3 in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a portion of an APS in accordance withembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the APS in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention taken along lines 7-7 of FIG.6 ;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the APS in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention taken along lines 8-8 of FIG.6 ;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a portion of the APS of FIG. 6 in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a portion of the APS of FIG. 6 inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of a portion of the APS of FIG. 6in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a detailed front perspective view of a portion of the apparelcoupler of FIG. 9 in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a detailed side view of a portion of the apparel coupler ofFIG. 12 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the APS coupled tofeeder lines taken along lines 14-14 of FIG. 4 in accordance withembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a detailed exploded side view of a portion of the apparelcoupler of FIG. 13 in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 16A is a perspective view of a portion of a system includingmulti-axis control of apparel anchor points in accordance withembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 16B is a front view of a portion of a system having rigidtelescopic actuators for controlling a position of an AE in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 16C a perspective view of a portion of an AE with a plurality ofcompartments in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 16D a perspective view of a portion of an AE with a plurality ofcompartments each having (internal) vents of different sizes inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 16E a perspective view of a portion of an AE with a pinchedcompartment in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 16F is a perspective view of a portion of an AE with a specificobesity-type pattern in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 17A is a partially cutaway perspective front view of a portion ofan AE with at least a folded leg pattern in accordance with embodimentsof the present invention;

FIG. 17B is a partially cutaway perspective side view of a portion of anAE with at least a folded leg pattern in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention;

FIG. 17C is a partially cutaway a perspective view of a portion of an AEwith at least a folded arm pattern in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 17D is a partially cutaway perspective view of a portion of an AEhaving a dress pattern inflating a dress in accordance with embodimentsof the present invention;

FIG. 17E is a partially cutaway perspective view of the dress inflatedby a portion of the AE of FIG. 17D in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 17F is a front view of a portion of the AE of FIG. 17D in asubstantially folded position in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 17G is a side view of a portion of the AE of FIG. 17B with at leasta folded leg pattern in a substantially folded position in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention is shown;

FIG. 18A is an exploded partially-cutaway perspective view of a portionof an AE formed from a plurality of ECs such as illustrated by ECscoupled together in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 18B is a rear view of a portion of the EC in accordance withembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 18C is a front view of a portion of the EC in accordance withembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is an exploded partially-cutaway perspective view of a portionof the AE coupled to optional ECs coupled together in accordance withembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 20A is flowchart which shows a portion of an apparel measurementprocess to generate DSCI performed by a vendor in accordance withembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 20B is flowchart which shows a portion of an apparel measurementprocess to generate DSCI in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 21 is flowchart which shows a portion of an apparel fitting processperformed by a system for shoppers operating in accordance withembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 22 shows a screenshot of a portion of a selection screen generatedand rendered by the process configured to select an AOC to be digiformedin accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 23 shows a detailed perspective view of a fitting room systemoperating in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is flowchart which shows a portion of an apparel fitting processperformed by a system in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 25 is a screenshot of a portion of a selection screen generated andrendered by the process to select an apparel for a digiform fitting inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 26 shows a screenshot of a portion of a digiform visualization mode(DVM) screen in a view-and-measure mode (VMM) generated and rendered bythe process in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 27 shows a screenshot of a portion of a digiform comparison mode(DCM) screen in a Cross Section mode (CSM) generated and rendered by theprocess in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a screenshot of a portion of a digiform visualization mode(DVM) screen illustrating a rendering of a 3D model of an AOC in a VAMin accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a screenshot of a portion of a digiform visualization mode(DVM) screen in a comments-mode generated and rendered by the process inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a screenshot of a portion of a digiform visualization mode(DVM) screen in a VAM generated and rendered by the process inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a screenshot of a portion of a screen incorporating digiformfunctionality generated and rendered by the process in accordance withembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a detailed front view of a portion of an AE in an expandedorientation within an AOC 3251 in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 33A shows a perspective view of a shopper shopping using a systemoperating in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 33B shows a detailed screenshot of a portion of the scan mode (SM)screen generated and rendered in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 33C shows a detailed screenshot of a portion of a digiformcomparison mode (DCM) screen in a Cross Section mode (CSM) generated andrendered in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 33D shows a detailed screenshot of a portion of a locate modescreen generated and rendered in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. Itwill be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have notbeen described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. As numerousmodifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in theart, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the limitednumber of embodiments described herein. Accordingly, it will beappreciated that all suitable variations, modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the invention and the practical application,and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand theinvention for various embodiments with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated.

Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, otherobjects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingfigures. Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely illustrative of the invention that may be embodied in variousforms. In addition, each of the examples given in connection with thevarious embodiments of the invention which are intended to beillustrative, and not restrictive.

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification.The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation,together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following detailed description when readwith the accompanying drawings.

The figures constitute a part of this specification and includeillustrative embodiments of the present invention and illustrate variousobjects and features thereof. Further, the figures are not necessarilyto scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particularcomponents. In addition, any measurements, specifications and the likeshown in the figures are intended to be illustrative, and notrestrictive. Therefore, specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention. Further, where considered appropriate,reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicatecorresponding or analogous elements.

Because the illustrated embodiments of the present invention may for themost part, be implemented using electronic components and circuits knownto those skilled in the art, details will not be explained in anygreater extent than that considered necessary, for the understanding andappreciation of the underlying concepts of the present invention and inorder not to obfuscate or distract from the teachings of the presentinvention.

Any reference in the specification to a method should be applied mutatismutandis to a system capable of executing the method. Any reference inthe specification to a system should be applied mutatis mutandis to amethod that may be executed by the system.

Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take themeanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. The terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. In addition, throughout thespecification, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” include pluralreferences.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or“comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, acts, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, acts, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

The phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an example embodiment,” and “insome embodiments” as used herein do not necessarily refer to the sameembodiment(s), though it may. Furthermore, the phrases “in anotherembodiment,” “in an alternative embodiment,” and “in some otherembodiments” as used herein do not necessarily refer to a differentembodiment, although it may. Thus, as described below, variousembodiments of the invention may be readily combined, without departingfrom the scope or spirit of the invention. In addition, as used herein,the term “or” is an inclusive “or” operator, and is equivalent to theterm “and/or,” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term“based on” is not exclusive and allows for being based on additionalfactors not described, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.The meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Itwill be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or“comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, acts, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, acts, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

In addition to conventional terminology the following terms may applywithout limitation. For example, the term coupling, coupled, and/or thelike, may include a mechanical and/or fluid coupling unless the contextindicates otherwise. Further, without limitation, as used herein theterms fluid coupling(s), fluidly coupled, fluidic coupling, and/or thelike may be used to denote any fluid or gas communication pathway inwhich a fluid such as a liquid or a gas may flow. For example, fluidcouplings may be used to denote any fluid (e.g., liquid or gas)communication pathway which may include one or more conduits, hoses,pipes, pumps, valves, pathways, and/or other intermediate members.Further, a fluid coupling may further include a valve, a pump, a flowcontrol device, and/or a pressure control device to control the flowand/or pressure of a fluid such as a liquid or a gas which may be activeor passively controlled.

The terms presented in Table 1 below apply without limitation unless thecontext indicates otherwise.

TABLE 1 Term Definitions AAI Apparel Alteration Information ACAlternating Current AE Apparel Expander AES Apparel Expander SupportAIDC Automatic Data Identification And Data Capture AOC Article OfClothing APS Apparel Support AR Augmented Reality B&M Brick and MortarCAN Controller Area Network CI Context Information CM Comparison ModeCNTRL Control Signal CSM Cross Section Mode DA Desired AOC DC DirectCurrent DCM Digiform Comparison Mode DFA Desired Fitting Apparel DSCDigiform Certificate DSCI Digiform Certificate Information DSI DigitalSize Information DVM Digiform Visualization Mode EC Expansion ChamberECP Estimated Customer Physique ECPM Estimated Customer Physique ModeECPMI Estimated Customer Physique Model Information ETM Elasticity ToolMode FCV Flow Control Valve FDC Fluid Distribution Channel FDU FluidDistribution Unit FR Flow Rate FTM Fold Tool Mode GUI Graphical UserInterface HAN Home Area Network IAN Internet Area Network IDIdentification IH Inflation Hanger LAN Local Area Network LCDLiquid-Crystal Display LM Locate Mode LRA List Of Registered Apparel MACMotor/Actuator Controller MI Meta Information MIB Mannequin InflationBoard MIBA Mannequin Inflation Board Assembly MS Match Or Matching ScoreMSA Match Or Matching Score AOC MTTM Measure Tape Tool Mode NFC NearField Communication OCR Optical Character Recognition OLED OrganicLight-Emitting-Diode OPF Operating Fluid PAN Personal Area Network PIPressure Information PLD Programmable Logic Device PTV PressureThreshold Value QR Quick Response Code RD Rendering Device RFID RadioFrequency Identification SESI Sensor Selection Information SM Scan ModeSSI Shopper Information SSS Shape Sensing Sensors SUID Shopper ProvidedUnique Identifier TTV Text to Voice UI User Interface US User StationVAA Virtually Altered Apparel VAM Virtual Alteration Mode VEI VendorInformation VMM View And Measure Mode VR Virtual Reality VTT Voice toText WAN Wide-Area Network

Embodiments of the present invention may include a digital sizing,grouping, rendering, fitting, and prediction system which may employ adigital size certificate information which may be referred to as adigiform certificate information (DSCI) and may include digital sizeinformation (DSI) and associated meta information (MI) as may bediscussed elsewhere in this application in further detail. The DSI mayinclude information related to at least one of form, shape, and size ofa scanned article of clothing (AOC) as may be represented by atwo-dimensional (2D), three-dimensional (3D), or four-dimensional (4D)information such as a 2D, 3D, or 4D model that may include informationrelated to shape, size, time, and/or elasticity of one or more scannedAOC. Generally, the DSCI for an AOC may be referred to as a DigiSize.Thus, for a plurality of AOCs each may have their own unique Digi Size.A plurality of AOC may be referred to as AOCs. As used herein the termsdigiform, digiformed, and digiforming may be used interchangeably withthe terms digisize, digisized, and digisizing, respectively.

A process, method, and/or operation of scanning or otherwise measuringan AOC to determine at least corresponding DSI and/or DSCI may bereferred to as digiforming operation and/or digiforming as may describedin accordance with embodiments of the present invention elsewhere inthis document. Thus, after an AOC undergoes digiforming, it may beconsidered to be digiformed. A digiforming center may be third-partyoperation which may perform digiforming on AOCs for vendors and/orshoppers.

Embodiments of the present invention may overcome disadvantages ofconventional apparel sizing and fitting systems, apparatus, and/ormethods, and may provide one or more of a system, a device, a computerprogram, a method, an algorithm, and/or an apparatus (hereinafter eachof which may be referred to as a system unless the context indicatesotherwise) which may scan an apparel during a digiforming operation anddetermine and/or generate, change, update, modify, store, and/or accessinformation related to the scanned apparel such as DSI and associatedDSCI. The system may modify DSCI, or portions thereof, in accordancewith system and/or user settings. The system may perform these acts fora plurality of articles of clothing (ADCs) and may group the DSCI, orportions thereof, in accordance with system settings, as may be set bythe system and/or user such as a vendor and/or shopper, and may storethe DSCI in a memory of the system for later use.

It is envisioned that DSCI for at least one AOC may be parameterized,grouped, sub-grouped, and/or may be associated with vendor information(VEI) or shopper information (SSI). For example, the DSCIs of AOCs of avender, such as a manufacturer, may be parameterized, grouped and/orsub-grouped in association with the VEI for the corresponding vendor andmay be stored in memory of the system for later use. Thus, the VEI mayinclude parameterized information. It is envisioned thatparameterization may be distinguished from grouping or sub grouping. Forexample, when a DSCI is not parameterized, it may include fixed digitaldimensions and/or elasticity, which may represent information such as aninner cavity of AOCs with substantially the same shape, size, and/orcharacteristics. A user may compare two DSCI. But when DSCI isparameterized, it may represent a much wider range of sizes and/or othervariations and comparison may be meaningful after one or more parametershave been specified for comparison of this DSCI. A non-parameterizedDSCI may represent the fitting of a ready-made AOC while a parameterizedDSCI may represent more of particular style provided by vendor incatalog which may be tailor made. Note that this should not be confusedwith virtual alteration described later on. In parameterized DSCI, avendor already has an idea what variability customers want and which maybe offered for a specific style of AOC, while in virtual alterationsusers may provide information by specifically indicating what the userdesires. For example, a vendor may offer DSCI of a men's shirt where ithas a fixed material, elasticity, and a fixed ratio of chest and bellydiameter, however, a user may parameterize, sleeve length, chestdiameter, and length of the shirt within certain limits. Whilein-virtual alterations, a user may specify any desired change includingany custom ratio of chest and belly diameter.

It is further envisioned that the VEI may include informationcorresponding with a vender of a plurality of vendors as may be set bythe system and/or user. Thus, each vendor may have associated VEI or aplurality of vendors may have associated VEI. For example, a merchantbelonging to a retailer's cooperative or the like may have VEI which mayinclude VEI of a plurality of manufactures which may supply the merchantwith the AOCs. For the sake of clarity, however, it will be assumed thatVEI may be associated with a corresponding vendor. It is envisioned thatDSCI or portions thereof may be associated with a corresponding vendorand stored in the VEI associated with the vendor. For example, anapparel or clothing vender may have VEI which may include DSCI for atleast one AOC associated with the vender such as AOCs which the vendermay sell, distribute, offer for sale, lease, advertise, etc. and whichmay have been digiformed so as to have corresponding DSCI available.

As used herein, the term vender may refer to a user of the system suchas a vender, a merchant, a wholesaler, a manufacturer, a supplier,distributor, a lessor, a renter, a seller, and/or the like (each ofwhich, or each of whom may be referred to as a vendor hereinafter forthe sake of clarity unless the context indicates otherwise) who mayimport, manufacture, produce, lease, rent, provide, supply, offer forsale, advertise, distribute, and/or sell apparel, clothing and/or thelike (hereinafter each of which may be referred to as clothing or thelike). This clothing (e.g., at least one AOC) may have correspondingDSCI, DSI, MI, and/or the like which may be formed in accordance withembodiments of the present invention. It is further envisioned that theterm vendor may include third parties which may perform digiformoperations to digiform AOCs for other vendors and form correspondingDSCI. For example, it is envisioned that one or more AOCs belonging to ashopper may be digiformed by digiforming Centers to form correspondingDSCI. Such a center may be operated by a vendor such as a retailer or anindependent vendor and may digiform AOCs for vendors and/or shoppers.

It should be understood that the term clothing may include any suitablearticle of clothing such as apparel, accessories, and/the like, and/orportions thereof such as, pants individually or pants of a suit, etc.Thus, the term clothing may include any suitable article(s) of clothing(AOC) or portions thereof. It should be understood that clothing mayrefer to a physical (e.g., real) clothing or portions thereof, virtualclothing, and/or combinations thereof.

The MI may include information which may assist shoppers or vendors inrecognizing or identifying the apparel such as an identification, name,color, image, style, etc. The MI may include information which may beprovided by a user such as a shopper or vendor. For example, a shoppermay provide a unique identifier for a corresponding apparel such as: auser defined label such as (“My Blue Dress”); a description of theapparel such as (“Black Levi's Jeans”); photo of the apparel or a labelthereof; any other photo to be associated with the AOC. This uniqueidentifier may then form at least a portion of the MI that may beassociated with the DSI and corresponding DSCI which may then beassociated with the SSI of the shopper. This MI may then be used toidentify the AOC from among one or more AOCs of the shopper which may besaved in the SSI of the shopper. It is envisioned that the system maygenerate, change, modify, update, store, and/or access the DSCI of ashopper or a vendor. It is further envisioned that the MI may includelocation information associated with one or more AOCs. This locationinformation may include any suitable location information such asgeophysical location and/or storage area information which may identifya location of an AOC within a building of a vendor. Such storage areainformation may include, for example, floor, storage area, rackidentifier, shelf identifier, etc.

It is envisioned that clothing (e.g., AOC) may be grouped or sub-groupedor otherwise defined in accordance with a type (e.g., pants, shirts,suits, jackets, skirts, leggings, blouses, vests, shoes, boots,sneakers, men's, women's, children's, etc.) and/or DigiSize. Thesegroups may be associated with a vender or a shopper. For example, oneDSCI may be associated with one or more groups or subgroups of clothingof the vender and stored as DSCI in the VEI of the vendor. It isenvisioned that DSCI for one or more AOCs may be associated with VEI andmay be grouped, sub-grouped, and/or parameterized as desired.Accordingly, embodiments of the system may provide an interface withwhich a user may interact with the system in accordance with embodimentsof the invention.

As used herein, the term shopper may refer to a user of the system suchas a shopper, a consumer, a purchaser, a lessee, a customer, and/or thelike who may purchase, rent, wear, try on, consume, shop for, trial,etc., one or more AOCs. Each user of the system may have an associatedprofile. For example, a shopper may have an associated user profile (akashopper profile information or profile information) which may includeinformation related to an account of the shopper such as accountinformation, profiles, system settings, preferences, etc. The shopperprofile information may be stored in association with the SSI and vendorprofile information may be stored in association with the VEI. Thesystem may render profile information in response to a request from acorresponding user such as a corresponding shopper and may store thisinformation in a memory of the system for later use. Thus, the systemmay render information associated with a shopper's account in responseto a request for this information from the shopper. Such information mayinclude, for example, user profile and/or DSCI or portions thereof suchas DSI, MI, and/or the like which may be stored as shopper information(SSI) in a memory of the system. The SSI may include informationassociated with an account of a shopper such as a profile information ofan account of the shopper and associated DSCI.

A block diagram of a portion of a digiforming system 101 (hereinaftersystem 101 for the sake of clarity unless the context indicatesotherwise) in accordance with embodiments of the prevent invention isshown in FIG. 1 . The system 101 may include one or more of a controller2, a memory 4, a user interface (UI) 6, a fluid distribution unit (FDU)8, an actuator 10, an apparel expander support (AES) 12, an apparelexpander (AE) 34, an apparel support (APS) (e.g., see, 338, FIG. 3 ),sensors 20, a network 22, and user stations (USs) 24-1 through 24-N(generally USs), where N is an integer. In some embodiments of thepresent invention only a single US of the USs may be discussed for thesake of clarity unless the context indicates otherwise.

The controller 2 may control the overall operation of the system 101 andmay include a motor/actuator controller (MAC) 30, a communicationsportion 32, and one or more logic devices such as programmable logicdevices (PLDs), microprocessors, logic circuits, and/or logic gates,etc. For example, the one or more logic devices may include one or moremicroprocessors 28. It is further envisioned that the one or moreportions of the controller 2 such as the logic devices may be localand/or remotely located relative to each other. For example, thecontroller 2 may include a plurality of microprocessors (μPs) 28 whichmay be distributed through the network 22. The controller 2 maygenerate, change, store, and/or access information generated by thesystem 101 such as operating instructions, settings, parameterinformation, content, DSCs, DSI, DSCI, MI, VEI, SSI, profileinformation, and/or other information. The controller 2 may furtherinclude comparison engine for performing comparisons to, for example,determine a match score (MS) to find an apparel that may fit a shopperas may be discussed below. It is envisioned that the controller 2 mayimplement one or more algorithms in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention.

The sensors 20 may include one or more sensors which may sense, generatecorresponding sensor information, and provide this sensor information tothe controller 2 of the system for further processing. For example, thesensors 20 may include Z sensors 20-1 through 20-Z, where Z is aninteger, such as one or more of temperature sensors 20-1, humiditysensors 20-2, pressure sensors 20-3, optical sensors 20-4, image capturesensors 20-5 (e.g., a camera or the like), transducers 20-6 (e.g.,ultrasound, X-ray, microwave, millimeter wave, etc.), sound sensors 20-7(e.g., a microphone, etc.), acceleration sensors 20-8, proximity sensors20-9, position sensors 20-10, and orientation sensors 20-11, flowsensors 20-12, parameter sensors 20-13, and automatic dataidentification and data capture (AIDC) compatible sensors 20-Z each ofwhich sense a corresponding condition (e.g., a parameter, etc.) and maygenerate corresponding information such as temperature information,humidity information, pressure information, optical information (e.g.,infrared or laser beam sensors and the like), image information, echoinformation (e.g., ultrasound, X-ray, microwave, millimeter wave, etc.),sound information, acceleration information, proximity information,position information, orientation information, flow information,parameter information, and AIDC information respectively, in one or moreportions of the system, and provide this sensor information to thecontroller 2 for further processing as may be discussed elsewhere inthis application. In some embodiments, one or more of the sensors may becombined with one or more other sensors. It is further envisioned thatone or more of the sensors may be local and/or distributed throughoutthe system 101.

The AIDC compatible sensors 20-Z (hereinafter AIDC sensors) may beoperative to read AIDC compatible tags and may include sensors which maybe operative with one or more sensors of the system and/or other sensorof the system which may be configured to operate in accordance with AIDCmethods to communicate with compatible tags such as the AIDC compatibletags (hereinafter AIDC tags) and/or the like which may be unique to acorresponding apparel and which may be used to identify the apparel, andcollect data related to the apparel such as identification informationand/or DSCI. The controller 2 may process the collected data and/orstore the collected data into a memory of the system for later use. Itis envisioned that the AIDC sensors may include one or more of QR codes,bar codes, near-field communication (NFC) tags, radio-frequencyidentification (RFID) tags, biometric markers (e.g., iris, fingerprints,facial recognition, etc.), magnetic stripes, and/or smart cards orsimply a printed label with text, which may read corresponding tags andform corresponding sensor information. This information may then beprocessed by the controller 2 and may be stored in a memory of thesystem, such as the memory 4, for later use. It is also envisioned thatthe AIDC sensors may operate under the control of the controller 2 andthe memory 4, to perform optical character recognition (OCR), formcorresponding sensor information, process this sensor information,and/or store this sensor information in a memory of the system, such asthe memory 4, for later use.

The controller 2 may obtain and process the sensor information, byitself or with other information, and make one or more determinationsbased upon the processed information. Thereafter, the controller 2 maycontrol the system 101 accordingly. It should be understood that othersensors may be employed in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. The sensor information and processing may be discussedelsewhere in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

The MAC 30 may include one or more circuits configured to drive one ormore motors, valves, and/or actuators of the system 101 as may bediscussed elsewhere in this application. For example, the MAC 30 mayinclude a motor controller to drive a corresponding motor.

The memory 4 may include any suitable memory such as a non-transitorymemory or memories which may store information desired by the system 101such as the operating instructions, VEI, SSI, DSCI, DSI, AAI, MI,history information, content and/or other information generated,accessed, process, and/or otherwise used by the system 101. The memoryand/or memories may be situated locally and/or remotely from each otherand may be accessed via any suitable bus or network such as the network22. For example, the memory 4 may include any suitable distributedmemory or memory systems, one or more portions of which may be accessedvia suitable bus or network such as the network 22.

The FDU 8 may be operative under the control of the controller 2 and mayoutput a fluid such as a liquid (e.g., water, oil, silicone, etc.) or agas (e.g., air, nitrogen, helium, etc.) at one or more outputs such asat outputs F_(out1) through F_(outM) (e.g., generally F_(outm)) viacorresponding fluid distribution channels 40, where M is assumed to bean integer. This fluid may be referred to as the operating fluid (OPF)and may have a desired flow rate and/or pressure at the correspondingoutput F_(outm). It should be appreciated that the OPF may include anysuitable fluid (e.g., air, etc.). For the sake of clarity, it will beassumed that the OPF is air in the embodiments discussed herein. It isappreciated, however, that one or more other fluids may be substitutedin one or more portions of the system 101 with proper modifications.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the MAC 30 ofthe controller 2 may generate and output a control signal (CNTRL) tocontrol the FDU 8 to output the OPF (e.g., compressed air) at one ormore of the outputs F_(outm) of the FDU 8. In some embodiments, the OPFmay be output at a corresponding output F_(outm) at a desired pressure(PRESS) and/or flow rate (FR) under the control of the controller 2.This pressure and/or flow rate of the OPF may be sensed by one or moresensors of the system such as by the sensors 20 and the controller 2 mayadjust one or more portions of the system accordingly to achieve adesired pressure and/or flow rate.

In accordance with some embodiments, the FDU 8 may include a drive side8A and a distribution side 8B. The drive side 8A may include at leastone motor 14 configured to drive at least one pump 16 to compress (orotherwise cause the flow of) a fluid such as air (e.g., ambient air,etc.) and provide this compressed fluid to at least one distributor 18(on a distribution side 8B) that may be configured to optionallydistribute and/or provide this compressed fluid to one or morecorresponding outputs F_(outm) of the FDU 8 as the OPF, as discussedabove. One or more of the at least one motor 14, the at least one pump16, and the at least one distributor 18 may be operative under thecontrol of the controller 2. It is envisioned that the at least onedistributor 18 may be releasably coupled to the at least one pump 16.The distributor ‘8 may be further coupled to the AE 34 via a coupler 44.

The at least one pump 16 may include any suitable pump or pumps such aspositive displacement pumps (e.g., reciprocating, rotary, etc. and/ordynamic displacement pumps such as centrifugal and/or special effectpumps (e.g., jets, etc.). It is envisioned that the at least one motor14 may include any suitable type of pump or pumps such as linear,rotary, and/or reciprocating (e.g., vibrating, etc.) motors and/or thelike. It is further envisioned that the at least one motor 14 mayinclude an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, a pneumatic motor, etc.For example, it would be appreciated that the at least one motor 14 mayinclude one or more motors of the same or different types. For example,with regard to electrical motors, the at least one motor 14 may includeany suitable motor or motors such as an alternating current (AC) motor,a direct current (DC) motor, a stepper motor, and/or any other suitabletype of motor or motors.

It is envisioned that the controller 2 may be operative to determine anoutput displacement of the OPF (volume displaced by the OPF) of the atleast one pump 16 and may control the at least one pump 16 based atleast upon this determined output displacement. For example, the systemmay determine a number of pumping cycles of a positive displacement(piston type) pump to determine its output volume of the OPF. Thisoutput volume of the OPF may then be optionally processed to determine avolume displaced by the AE 34. It is further envisioned that thedetermined volume displaced by the AE 34 may further be determined orotherwise adjusted in accordance with at least some of the sensorinformation obtained from one or more sensors 20 of the system such astemperature, barometric pressure, humidity, and/or other sensorinformation. In yet other embodiments the shape, size, and/or volume ofthe AE 34 or portions thereof may be determined in accordance with atleast sensor information obtained from one or more sensors 20 of thesystem 101 such as the optical, image capture, proximity, transducer,and/or other sensors. The AE 34 may include an expandable mannequin orportions thereof such as an inflatable mannequin or inflatable partialmannequin (e.g., torso with or without arms, arms, legs, feet, etc.).The AE 34 include one or more types (e.g., corresponding with a types ofan AOC through which it is expand) which may be selected by the systemand/or user. For example, the system may determine a type of an apparelwhich is to be measured and may select a corresponding AE 34 type as maybe described elsewhere in this application. For the sake of clarity, theAE may be referred to as a mannequin or partial mannequin of the like.In some embodiments, the AE 34 may include one or more expansionchambers 36.

The MAC 30 may be configured to drive the at least one motor 14 whichmay be coupled to, and drive, the at least one pump 16 such that theoutput of the at least one pump 16 (e.g., the OPF) may be selectivelycontrolled. This output of the at least one pump 16 may then beselectively or directly flow coupled to an m^(th) output F_(outm) of theone or more of the outputs F_(outm) of the pressurizer 8 via thedistributor 18 which may directly or selectively control output of theOPF. Accordingly, output of the OPF may be selectively controlled by thesystem 101. In accordance with some embodiments, the distributor 18 mayinclude one or more valves which may selectively control flow and/orpressure of the OPF at one or more of the outputs F_(outm) of the FDU 8.It is also envisioned that that the MAC may be operative to control thedistributor 18 to release pressure of the OPF at one or more of theoutputs F_(outm) of the pressurizer 8 when desired such as afterexpansion of the AE 34 is determined to be complete, at the request ofthe system (when an error is detected), at the request of a user (e.g.,an operator in the present embodiments), and/or under other definedcondition(s).

The communications portion 32 may be configured to communicate with thenetwork 22 using and suitable communication method or methods such aswired and/or wireless communication methods and/or the like. It shouldbe appreciated that other communication methods such as optical,acoustical, etc. may also be employed. For the sake of clarity,reference to wired and/or wireless communication methods may beunderstood to include optical and/or other suitable communicationmethods.

The communications portion 32 (COMM) may include one or more wired,optical, and/or wireless transmitters such as antennas (ANT) configuredto communicate with the network 22 using any suitable communicationmethod or methods such as wired, optical, and/or wireless communicationmethods. For example, the communications portion 32 may include a shortrange or long-range wireless communications portion which maycommunicate using any suitable communication protocol(s), method(s),and/or standard(s) such as Bluetooth™, NFC™, Zigbee™, Wi-Fi™, and/or thelike or other suitable communication methods. It is further envisionedthat the communication portion 32 may communicate via a cellular networksuch as a broadband cellular communication network (e.g. a mobilecommunication network such as a 3G, 4G, or 5G network, etc.), an ad-hocnetwork, a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), acontroller area network (CAN), a multiplex communication system, etc.

The rendering device (RD) 6 may include any suitable rendering device ordevices such as one or more of a display 6D, a speaker 6S, a hapticdevice 6V, etc., and/or a user input device 6I one or more of which maybe local and/or distributed from each other. The RD 6 may provide a userinterface (UI) such as a graphical user interface (GUI) with may berendered on any suitable rendering device of the system 101 such as thedisplay 6D to provide for user interaction. It is envisioned that thedisplay 6D may include the user input device 6I, such as a touch-screendisplay, with which a user may enter information for use by the systemsuch as selections, text, etc. One or more RDs 6 may be located locallyor remotely from each other and/or the other portions of the system.

The display 6D may include any suitable display such as a liquid-crystaldisplay (LCD), an organic light-emitting-diode (OLED) display, anelectrophoretic display (e.g., E-Ink™, etc.), and/or the like. The userinput device 6I may include any suitable device with which a user mayinteract with the system such as a keyboard (e.g., hard and/or soft), amouse, a stylus, a trackball, a trackpad, a touch-input device (e.g., atouchpad, a touchscreen, etc.), an image capture device such as a cameraor the like (e.g., which may generate image information which may befurther processed to track a user and/or determine one or more gestures(e.g., such as multi-touch gestures, etc.) of the user, a biometricreader (e.g., a fingerprint reader, an iris reader, etc.), a microphone,etc. Accordingly, a user may enter information (e.g., passively oractively) via the user input device 6I. It is envisioned that thedisplay 6D may render a UI such a GUI.

The system 101 may analyze information received from the input device 6Iand/or one or more other sensors of the system such as image informationreceived from an image capture device, audio information received fromthe microphone, etc., and may determine one or more gestures and/oraudio commands, and/or may operate in accordance with the determined oneor more gestures and/or audio commands. The system 101 may be operativeto generate and render a UI such as a GUI with which a user may interactto map one or more gestures and/or audio commands to one or moreoperations of the system. For example, gestures may be set by a userand/or the system and may be mapped to one or more operations and storedin association with VEI or SSI depending upon a user in a memory of thesystem for later use.

It is envisioned that a user may interact with the microphone and/orimage capture device to control the system 101. For example, a user mayenter commands verbally and system may translate these commands usingany suitable method such as a voice-to-text (VTT) processor and/or thelike. Neural processing methods may also be employed to translate thecommands. Similarly, the system 101 may generate and/or renderinformation for the convenience of a user such as content, userinstructions, USI, audio information, etc. VEI, SSI, etc., using anysuitable rendering device of the system such as the display 6-D and/orthe speaker 6-S. It is envisioned that the system may employ atext-to-voice (TTV) translator and/or the like to convert textinformation and/or the like to audio information.

The AES 12 may be coupled to one or more of the FDU 8, the actuator 10,and the AE 34 and may be configured to support, stabilize, and/orprovide rigidity to the AE 34 or portions thereof during use. The AES 12may include one or more couplers which may releasably couple to the APS(e.g., see, 338 of FIG. 3 ) using suitable method such as hooks,magnetic coupling (e.g., electromagnets, etc.), interference fits,latches, cables, guides, etc. It is envisioned that the AES 12 may befixedly or releasably coupled to the AE 34 (e.g., via any suitablecoupler) or may be formed integrally with the AE 34. In someembodiments, the AES 12 may be controlled by the actuator 10 so as tocontrol position and/or orientation of one or more portions of the AES12 and/or AE 34 as may be desired.

It is envisioned that the AE 34 may include one or more types one ormore of which may be selected to correspond with a type of an AOC whichit is to expand (e.g., shirt, pants, jacket, blouse, skirt, coat, etc.)during a digiforming operation. For example, the AE 34 may be shapedand/or sized to fit into a cavity of an AOC such that it may be inaccord with a type of AOC and/or or a general form, shape, and/or sizeof an AOC (or an interior cavity of the AOC) as may be determined inaccordance with sensor information obtained from one or more sensors 20of the system such as image information obtained from image capturesensors 20-5. Thus, the system may select an AE 34 for use in a currentscan (e.g., an i^(th) scan) in accordance with an approximate sizeand/or type of the AOC which is to undergo the scan to determine its DSIand DigiSize. It is envisioned that the AE 34 may be selectively coupledto, or formed integrally with, the AES 12 in accordance with embodimentsof the present invention.

The AE 34 may include one or more expansion chambers (ECs) 36 each ofwhich may be coupled (e.g., flow coupled) to one or more inputs of theAE such as inputs AE_(in1) through AE_(inJ), where J is an integer. Inthe present example, it will be assumed that the AE 34 includes J ECs 36(three of which are shown) each of which may be coupled to correspondingj^(th) input AE_(inj). It will be further assumed that the number ofinputs AE_(inj) may correspond with the number of outputs F_(outM) of,for example, the distributor 18 of the FDU 8. Accordingly, each j^(th)input AE_(inj) of the AE 34 may be flow coupled to a correspondingm^(th) output F_(outm) of the FDU 8. One or more couplers (e.g., hoses,tubes, etc. and/or releasable couplers, etc.), combiners, valves, flowpassages, manifolds, etc. may be configured to form or otherwisefacilitate this coupling. In the present example, it will be assumedthat the AE 34 includes J ECs 36 each of which may be coupled tocorresponding j^(th) input AE_(inj). It will be further assumed that thenumber of inputs AE_(inJ) may correspond with the number of outputsF_(outM) of, for example, the distributor 18 of the FDU 8. Thus, eachm^(th) input AE_(inm) of the M inputs may be flow coupled to acorresponding m^(th) output F_(outm) of, for example, the distributor 18of the FDU 8 directly of via the AES 12.

It is envisioned that one or more of the ECs 36 may be coupled to thesame input(s) AE_(inj). For example, two or more ECs 36 may be coupledto the same j^(th) input AE_(inj). This may be beneficial in the eventthat number of ECs 36 does not equal (e.g., greater than or less than)the number of inputs (e.g., the J inputs) AE_(inj) or the number ofoutputs F_(outM) of the FDU 8.

Assuming that J is equal to M in the present example, then each j^(th)input of the inputs AE_(in1) through AE_(inJ) may be respectively flowcoupled to a respective m^(th) output of the outputs F_(out1) throughF_(outM) of the FDU 16.

Embodiments of the present system may include an apparel support (APS)which may be selectively and/or removably coupled to one more of the AES12 and/or AE 34 as may described elsewhere in this application. The APSmay include a coupler (e.g., active or passive) configured to releasablycouple to the AES 12 and/or the AE 34. Although a single APS may bedescribed herein for the sake of clarity, it should be understood thatthe APS may include a plurality of APSs. The APS or portions thereof maybe configured to support an apparel or portions thereof for measurementsuch as may be performed during digiforming. The APS will be describedin further detail elsewhere in this application.

The actuators 10 may be coupled to one or more of the AES 12, the AE 34,and/or one or more guides (e.g., one or more guide rails or supports) ofthe system 101 and may be operative to control the position and/ororientation of one or more of the AES 12 and the AE 34 during use underthe control of the controller 2. It is envisioned that the controller 2may obtain sensor information from one or more sensors 20 of the system,may determine position and/or orientation of one or more portions of thesystem 101 such as one or more of the actuator 10 (or portions thereof),the AES 12, the AE 34, the APS, the apparel, the guide, and theactuators 10, and may control the actuators 10 to control the positionand/or orientation of one or more of the AES 12, the AE 34, the APS, theguide, etc.

It is envisioned that the actuators 10 may include one or more actuatorswhich may provide multi-axes control of at least position and/ororientation of one or more portions of the system 101.

It is envisioned that the actuators 10 include any suitable actuator oractuator(s) such as electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and/orother actuators. It is further envisioned that the actuator 10 maycontrol a position and/or orientation of one or more of the sensors 20and/or may control position and/or orientation and/or operation of oneor more fluid control devices such as flow control valves (FCVs) of thedistributor 18 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

The network 22 may include any suitable wired and/or wireless networks.For example, the network 22 may include a short-range wirelesscommunications network such as Bluetooth™, Zigbee™, a cellular networksuch as a broadband cellular communication network (e.g. a mobilecommunication network such as a 3G, 4G, 5G network and/or the like,etc.), an NFC network, a home automation network, a personal areanetwork (PAN), an ad-hoc network, an Internet area network (IAN orcloud), a local-area network (LAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), awide-area network (WAN), a Wi-Fi™, a home network (e.g., a home areanetwork (HAN), etc., and/or combinations thereof. Other types ofnetworks and/or communications protocols and/or methods, however, mayalso be employed.

It is envisioned that a user or users may communicate via the network 22using any suitable communication device such as a user station (US) suchas USs 24-1 through 24-N (generally US-x). The US-xs may be fixed and/ormobile and may include smart phones, wired or wireless controllers(e.g., smart-home controllers), computers, laptops, tablets,Chromebooks™, etc. Thus, one or more users may communicate with thesystem 101 directly or via the network 22. It is further envisioned thatone or more users of the system may communicate with each other using asocial media applications to, for example, share information related toone or more AOC such as digiform information and the like. For example,the USs may communicate with one or more network connected servers totransmit and/or receive information in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention.

In the simplest form, a 3D model may be generated from digiforming usinginformation obtained from sensors of the system.

Various alternative embodiments of FDUs will now be discussed withreference to FIG. 2A through FIG. 2D, wherein a block diagram 21A of aportion of an FDU 8A in accordance with a third second embodiment isshown in FIG. 2A; a block diagram 21B of a portion of an FDU 8B inaccordance with a third embodiment is shown in FIG. 2B; a block diagram21C of a portion of an FDU 8C in accordance with a third embodiment isshown in FIG. 2C; and a block diagram 21D of a portion of an FDU 8D inaccordance with a fourth embodiment is shown in FIG. 2D. In each ofthese figures, the corresponding FDU 8A through 8D (generally 8 x) mayinclude one or more outputs F_(out1) through F_(outM) generally F_(outm)through which the OPF may flow.

Referring to FIGS. 2A through 2D, it is envisioned that the system mayperform one or more of a pressurization, hold, balance, vacuum, anddepressurization processes. During the pressurization process, thesystem may be controlled such that a corresponding FDU 8 x may outputthe OPF at one or more corresponding outputs F_(outm) which may resultin an increase in pressure and/or volume of the OPF. During the holdprocess, the system may be controlled such that the OPF at one or morecorresponding outputs F_(outm) may be held at a constant volume and/orpressure (e.g., by closing valves of the corresponding FDU 8 x andassuming constant ambient temperature). During the balance process, thesystem may be controlled such that the OPF at one or more correspondingoutputs F_(outm) may be equalized in pressure with another one of theoutputs F_(outm) (e.g., by opening the valves of the corresponding FDU 8x. During the vacuum process, the system may be controlled such that acorresponding FDU 8 x may vacuum the OPF at one or more correspondingoutputs F_(outm).

The pressurization process may be employed to expand an AE. Conversely,the vacuum process may be employed to collapse and fold an AE as may bedone after performing a scan.

Pressurization

Referring to FIG. 2A, the FDU 8A may be similar to the FDU 8 and mayinclude at least one motor 14A that may drive at least one pump 16A tocompress a fluid, such as air, and provide this compressed fluid to adistributor 18A during a pressurization process. The distributor 18A maybe controlled to distribute the compressed fluid to be selectivelyoutput as the OPF at one or more outputs F_(out1) through F_(outM)(generally F_(outm)) thereof (where M is an integer) of the distributor18A during the pressurization process. It is envisioned that thedistributor 18A may include a manifold 26A which may be configured toflow couple the compressed fluid from the at least one pump 16A to theone or more outputs F_(out1) through F_(outM) of the distributor 18A viathe one or more flow control valves V₁ through V_(M) (generally V_(m)),respectively which may be controlled to selectively control flow of theOPF from one or more outputs F_(out1) through F_(outM). Moreparticularly, one or more of the flow control valves V₁ through V_(M)(generally V_(m)) may be selectively controlled to output the OFP at oneor more corresponding outputs F_(out1) through F_(outM) of thedistributor 18A so that one or more desired chambers of an AE coupledthereto (e.g., AE 34 in FIG. 1 ) may be inflated as desired. During thepressurization process, it will be assumed that a controller of thesystem (e.g., controller 2 in FIG. 1 ) may control the at least onemotor 14A to drive at least one pump 16A and provide an output to thedistributor 18A. The controller may control the one or more of the flowcontrol valves V_(m) to distribute the OPF evenly or unevenly as may bedesired and may be set in accordance with a system settings such as acorresponding AE type, size, etc.

Depressurization

It is envisioned that one or more of the flow controls valves V_(m) maybe controlled to selectively flow couple one or more of the outputsF_(out1) through F_(outM) to a vent output F_(vent) (e.g., anatmospheric vent) via one or more of outlet manifolds 26B and 26C and anoptional vent valve 26 _(ATM) so as to flow the OPF from one or more ofthe outputs F_(out1) through F_(outM) to the vent output F_(vent) (whichmay be at atmospheric pressure). For the sake of clarity, it will beassumed that the vent output F_(vent) will be assumed to be atatmospheric pressure (e.g., vent to atmosphere (ATM)). This process maybe referred to as a depressurization process. During thedepressurization, hold, and/or balance processes, it will be assumedthat the at least one motor 14A and/or at least one pump 16A may bedeactivated or otherwise stopped (e.g., off) by the controller. In yetother embodiments, it is envisioned that one or more of the flowcontrols valves V₁ through V_(M) may further selectively control inputsto the pump so as to generate a vacuum suitable for vacuuming the AEcoupled thereto sufficiently to collapse the AE to its folded size.

Balancing

The pressure within one or more selected outputs F_(outm) may bebalanced with each other by closing the vent output F_(vent) andcontrolling the corresponding flow control valves V_(m) to flow couplethe one or more selected outputs F_(outm) with each other via the outletmanifold 26B while the optional vent valve V_(ATM) 26 closed which mayprevent flow of the OPF to atmosphere. Thus, during the balance process,one or more selected outputs F_(outm) may be flow coupled to each otherand closed to atmosphere (e.g., atmospheric pressure).

Holding

The pressure within one or more selected outputs F_(outm) may be held(e.g., in a steady-state or substantially stead-state pressure) bycontrolling the corresponding flow control valves V_(m) to close so asto isolate the corresponding one or more selected outputs F_(outm) fromeach other and/or atmosphere.

It is envisioned that one or more of the flow control valves V_(m)(e.g., an m^(th) flow control valve V_(mth)) and/or the vent valve 26_(atm) may be controlled by a controller of the system to control flow,pressure, and/or vacuum within one or more corresponding outputsF_(outm) (e.g., an m^(th) output F_(outm)) of the distributor 18A so asto perform a pressurization, hold, balance, and/or depressurization ofone or more of the outputs F_(outm) in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention. Operation of the flow control valves V_(m) aswell as the optional vent valve 26 _(atm) may be controlled by the MACof the controller so as to control the pressure and/or flow of the OPFvia corresponding outputs F_(outm) and/or F_(vent).

It is envisioned that one or more of the flow control valves V_(m) mayinclude any suitable valve. For example, it is envisioned that one ormore of the flow control valves V_(m) may include two-way, three-way,and/or other types of valves and/or corresponding actuators such thatthe flow of the OPF may be controlled in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention. It is further envisioned that one or more of theflow control valves V_(m) and/or the vent valve 26 _(atm) may besituated locally and/or remotely from each other.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the FDU 8B may be similar to the FDU 8 and mayinclude at least one motor 14B that may drive at least one pump 16B tocompress a fluid such as air and provide this compressed fluid to adistributor 18B which may distribute the compressed fluid to beselectively output as the OPF at one of M outputs F_(outm) (where M isan integer) of the FDU 8B. The distributor 18B may be similar to thedistributor 8A and may be configured to selectively flow couple one ormore of the outputs F_(outm) to a vent output F_(vent) to perform adepressurization process. Accordingly, a gas such as the OPF within oneor more of the outputs F_(outm) may be selectively vented to atmospherevia the vent output F_(vent) so as to reduce pressure within thecorresponding m^(th) output(s) F_(outm).

It is further envisioned that the FDU 8B may be controlled by acontroller of the system to perform one or more of pressurization,depressurization, balance, and hold processes in accordance withembodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, the pump 16Bmay provide for pressure and vacuum.

Referring to FIG. 2C, the FDU 8C may be similar to the FDU 8A with theat least one motor including a plurality of motors 14C1 through 14CMeach driving a corresponding pump 16C1 through 16CM each correspondinglyflow coupled to one or more outputs F_(out1) through F_(outM) of thedistributor 18C via the one or more flow control valves V1 through VM(generally Vm) respectively, where M is an integer. The distributor 18Cmay be similar to the distributor 8A as discussed above and may includeone or more of the flow control valves Vm and/or the vent valve 26_(ATM) which may be controlled by a controller of the system to performone or more of pressurization, depressurization, balance, and holdprocesses in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2D, the FDU 8D may be similar to the FDU 8A and may beconfigured to receive a fluid from an external source (e.g., an externalfluid compressor, an accumulator, etc.) and may supply this fluid to adistributor 18D. The distributor 18D may be operatively similar to thedistributor 18A and may be controlled similarly to perform one or moreof pressurization, depressurization, balance, and hold processes inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention. For example,during a pressurization process, the distributor 18D may be controlledto distribute the compressed fluid to be selectively output as the OPFat one or more outputs F_(out1) through F_(outM) (generally F_(outM))thereof (where M is an integer) of the distributor 18D. The distributor18D may include an output F_(vent) through which the OPF may be ventedto atmosphere as discussed above.

A process of scanning one or more AOCs to form corresponding digiforminformation (DSCI) will now be discussed. During this process, it isenvisioned that one or more AOCs may be hung on. or otherwise coupledto, an assembly line which may guide them one-by-one into a sensorchamber (e.g., a measurement chamber) where a suitable AE such as anappropriate inflatable mannequin (IM), or portion thereof such as apartial inflatable mannequin (e.g., an inflatable mannequin emulating abust or portion of a body such as an arm, a leg, etc., as opposed to awhole body), may be inserted and inflated within the AOC so as to expandthe AOC to determine a form, shape, and/or size of its inner volume. TheAE may be shaped and sized similarly to the AOC such that it may havedimensions and girth which may be larger than that of the correspondingapparel. Hence beyond certain inflation, the form, shape, and/or size ofthe AE may be constrained and defined by an inner cavity of the AOC. Thematerial of the AE (e.g., the inflatable mannequin portion) and sensorsshould be selected such that sensors can detect (e.g., sense) themannequin through the material of the apparel and a form, shape, and/orsize of one or more portions of the mannequin may be determined (e.g.,through reconstruction, etc.) based upon the sensed information by thesystem for analysis. For example, when employing X-ray type sensors todetect the mannequin, then the mannequin may be formed from a materialor materials that may be easily and readily detected (e.g., sensed) byX-ray type sensors such as lead, gold, and/or any other suitablematerial for detection by and X-ray type sensors or the like, and/orlike materials but can pass through material of AOC. Similarly, whenemploying micro-wave or millimeter wave type sensors to detect themannequin, then the mannequin may be formed from a material or materialsthat may be easily and readily detected (e.g., sensed) by these sensors(e.g., the micro-wave or millimeter wave type sensors) such as ametallic material (e.g., foil, metal thread, mylar, BoPET, etc.).Similarly, when employing ultrasound-type sensors to detect themannequin, then the mannequin should be formed from a material ormaterials that may be easily and readily detected (e.g., sensed) bythese (e.g., the micro-wave or millimeter wave type sensors) sensors.Mannequins may include rigid and/or flexible portions and may be formedfrom any suitable material such a linen, leather, fabric, and/or thelike.

Thus, in accordance with embodiments, an AOC may be scanned, and thesystem may form corresponding digiform information, characterizing thatspecific AOC

Methods of performing a clothing measurement process, such as anautomated digiforming operation, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention will now be discussed with reference to FIG. 3 whichshows a detailed block diagram of a portion of a digiforming system 301(generally system 301) including a feeder line-type apparel positioningsystem in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Thesystem 301 may load, advance, and/or measure (e.g., to form digiforminformation) clothing such as AOCs 351-1 through 351-3 (generally AOCs351-x). Although only three AOCs 351-x are shown, however, it should beunderstood that any number of AOCs 351-x may be processed by the systemto obtain digiform information for each corresponding AOC. Each AOC351-x may be coupled to a corresponding apparel support (APS) 338 usingany suitable method such as apparel couplers 362 one or more of whichmay be arranged and configured to hold the corresponding AOC in adesired position relative to the APS 338 at one or more continuous ordiscrete points. It is envisioned that the apparel couplers 362 may havesome play during use so as to prevent undue stress on the apparel beingscanned when the AE is inflated. Apparel couplers in accordance withembodiments of the present invention will be described in more detailelsewhere in this application. The rear view may be of the system may besimilar.

The system 301 may include one or more mannequin inflation board (MIB)assemblies (MIBAs) such as a first MIBA 364-1 and second MIBA 364-2(generally 364-x). Each of the first and second MIBAs 364-x may besimilar to each other and include one or more of a distributor 318, anAE 334 (e.g., including an inflatable mannequin (IM) or portionthereof), and an AES 312 and one or more fluid distribution channels340. The AES 312 may be configured to support the AE 334 and/or thedistributor 318, the latter of which may be coupled to each other viathe one or more fluid distribution channels 340. Although the first andsecond MIBAs 364-x may be similar to each other and are of the same type(e.g., of a lower-body type to fit pants), the first MIBA 364-1 is shownwith its AE 314 deflated and folded (e.g., in a pre-measurement orpost-measurement configuration) and the second MIBA 364-2 is shown withits AE 314 inflated and expanded in a measurement configuration (e.g.,suitable for scanning the apparel 351-2 in which it is inserted).

The MIBAs 364-x, or portions thereof such as the AE 334, may be selectedin accordance with a type of apparel in which the AE 334 is to beinserted for a digiforming operation. The apparel type may correspondwith any suitable apparel which may include, without limitation clothingtypes such as men's pants, shirts, coats, skirts, jackets, vests, hats,undergarments, etc.; women's pants, shirts/blouses, coats, skirts,jackets, vests, hats, undergarments, etc., and children's pants, shirts,coats, skirts, jackets, vests, hats, undergarments, etc. This selectionmay be performed manually (e.g., by a user) or automatically by thesystem so that an MIBA 364-x with an AE corresponding to the type ofapparel to be digiformed may be selected and positioned relative to thecorresponding AOC 351-x. With regard to automatic identification ofapparel type, it is envisioned that a controller 306 may obtain anysuitable sensor information that may be processed to determine appareltype. For example, it is envisioned that the controller 306 may obtainsensor information such as image information from an image capturesensor 320-5 (e.g., a camera) which information may include an image ofthe apparel to be scanned (e.g., the AOC 351-1). Then, the controller306 may employ image recognition techniques to identify the type of theapparel (e.g., men's pants) and may the select a corresponding AE 334 orMIBA 364-x which may include the corresponding AE 334 for the identifiedapparel type which may correspond with the AOC 351-x to be scanned. Insome embodiments, the controller 306 may generate and render a userinterface (UI) on a rendering device of the system such as a displayincluding a plurality of selection items each corresponding to acorresponding apparel type of a plurality of apparel types for selectionby the user. The user may then select one of these selection items andthe controller 306 may then set the apparel type in accordance with theuser's selection. In yet other embodiments, the system may scan anidentity (ID) tag associated with an AOC 351-x to obtain correspondingapparel type information from a memory of the system such as from the IDtag and may match an AE and/or MIBA 3640-x in accordance with theapparel type information. One or more actuators of the system such asrobotic actuators, linear actuators, etc., may then be controlled by thecontroller 306 to position the apparel 351-x and/or the selected MIBA364-x relative to each other. For example, in some embodiments, the MIBA364-x may be associated with a scanning chamber 342 and the AOC 351-xmay be manipulated into position relative to the corresponding MIBA364-x. In yet other embodiments, however, the system may obtain theselected MIBA 364-x, or portions thereof, from a storage area, a standbyarea, etc., and position the MIBA 364-0 x as well as the AOC 351-xrelative to each other in the sensor chamber 342 in a position suitablefor a scanning operation in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

The AES 312 may be formed from any suitable material and may beconfigured to couple to one or more of the distributor 318 and the AE334. In some embodiments, the AES 312 may be formed from a sheet-likematerial such as a board or the like. The distributor 318 may be coupledto the AE 334 via the fluid distribution channels (FDCs) 340 which maybe configured to provide for passage of an OPF such as air to, or from,one or more expansion chambers such as ECs 336 of the AE 334.Accordingly, the OPF within one or more of the ECs 336 of the AE 334 maybe released to atmosphere, evacuated, or otherwise vacuumed to reducethe volume of the corresponding EC 336 of the AE 334 under the controlof the controller 306. Conversely, one or more of the ECs 336 of the AE334 may be filled with the OPF to increase its volume and thus the sizeof the corresponding EC 336 of the AE 334 as may be performed during adigiforming operation.

It is envisioned that the controller 306 may control one or more pumpsand/or valves of the system to selectively supply pressure to, or tovacuum, the AE 334 as may be desired in accordance with pressureinformation (PI) for a scanning operation. The PI may includeinstructions that may configure the controller 306 so that it maycontrol one or more pumps and/or valves to pressurize the AE 334 duringuse as may be desired. It is also envisioned that the PI may includeapparel type and time information. The PI may be obtained from thememory and may be associated with apparel type, AE type and/or additionssuch as ECs, etc. For example, a blouse may have different PI than apair of pants. For example, when expanding some types of AOC (e.g.,pants, etc.) the AE 334 may be inflated at a faster rate and/or to ahigher pressure than it may with other types of AOC (e.g., shirts,etc.). Similarly, when determining stretch of an apparel, it may bedesirable to inflate the AE 334 at a slower rate and/or at a lowerpressure during scanning. Further, the PI may be set to a lower pressureand/or inflation rate for delicate apparel. For example, Table 2 belowillustrates PI including information related to pressure with respect totime for different sections of shirts of different material types (e.g.,cotton, and silk). In general, the various pressures can be expressed asP₁(t), P₂(t)+ϕ₁, P₃(t)+ϕ₂, etc. where ϕ represents an offset.

TABLE 2 Pressure Information Versus Time AOC Type Material SectionPressure(psi)/time (sec) Shirt Cotton Belly P 

 t(sec) Shirt Cotton Torso

Shirt Cotton Sleeves

Shirt Silk Belly

Shirt Silk Torso

Shirt Silk Sleeve

It is envisioned that each of the AOCs 351-x may be coupled to, orotherwise hung from, a feeder line 360 via one of the correspondingapparel supports (APSs) 338. Each feeder line 360 may include one ormore guides or rails (e.g., tracks, etc.) chains, cables, and/or thelike which may be configured to guide a plurality of AOCs 351-x may becoupled thereto via the corresponding APS 338 along a desired path.Accordingly, in some embodiments it is envisioned that a plurality ofAOCs 351-x may be hung from the feeder line 360.

The feeder line 360 may pass through one or more areas such as from aninitialization or pre-scanning area (Area I), a scanning area (e.g.,Area II), and a post scanning area (e.g., Area III). For example, duringoperation, the feeder line 360 may guide the AOC 351-1 (e.g., asillustrated by arrow 353) from the initialization area (Area I), to thesensor chamber 342 located in the scanning area (e.g., Area II) fordigiforming at the sensor chamber 342 as illustrated by AOC 351-2. Afterdigiforming, or when otherwise desired, the feeder line 360 may guidethe AOC 351-2 from sensor chamber 342 in the scanning area (e.g., AreaII) to the post scanning area (e.g., Area III) as illustrated by arrow355 (e.g., see, apparel 351-3). One or more actuators may be coupled toone or more of the feeder line 360 and/or the corresponding APSs 338 toprovide a motive force to move the corresponding APSs 338 under thecontrol of the controller 306. The actuators may include, for example,linear motors, multi-axis controllers and/or the like. In someembodiments, a chain, cable, or belt may be coupled to one or more ofthe APSs 338 and may be configured to transfer a motive force from anactuator to the corresponding APSs 338 so as to move the correspondingAPSs 338 along the feeder line 360 from one area to the next under thecontrol of the controller 306. Accordingly, the feeder line 360 may beconfigured to guide one or more of the plurality of AOCs (e.g., AOC351-x) to or from the sensor chamber 342. It is envisioned that thefeeder line 360 may be configured to guide and/or steer selected apparel(e.g., AOC 351-x) to the sensor chamber 342. Although a single feederline 360 is shown, it is envisioned that a plurality of feeder lines 360may be provided. Similarly, a plurality of sensors chambers 342 may alsobe provided.

A pre-scan may be performed to identify the apparel being scanned, suchas the AOC 351-1 in the present embodiments, for ID information prior toscanning. For example, scanner such an interrogator 311-1 (e.g., anNFC/RFID interrogator of the like) which may query an NFC tag of the AOC351-1 to be scanned to obtain ID information of the AOC 351-1. Forexample, the AOC 351-1 may include identification (ID) information suchas an ID tag 311-2 (e.g., stock number, item number, id number, barcode, electronic ID such as an NFC or an RFID tag, etc.), which may beidentified or otherwise read by the interrogator 311-1 during thepre-scan operation to identify the AOC, its vendor, and/or shopper.Thereafter, DSI information generated by the system 301 may beassociated with the apparel and stored in the corresponding DSCI.

For the sake of clarity, it would be assumed that the term ID tag mayinclude any suitable ID tag such as AIDC-type tag and/or other suitabletag which may be read by the system to identify the apparel.

For example, during the pre-scan, an AOC 351-1 may be identified usingany suitable method such as by identification number (e.g., a stocknumber, item number, ID number, a manufacturer ID, a description, etc.)and/or other suitable identification which may obtained manually orautomatically. For example, the system may query the AOC to obtain itsID using any suitable communication method such as NFC and/or RFIDmethods. Accordingly, the system 301 may include one or more sensorssuch an NFC and/or RFI interrogator 311-1 which may communicate with acorresponding ID tag 311-2, respectively, of the AOC 351-x, and obtainan identification of the AOC 351-x. In yet other embodiments, an opticalscanner or image of the AOC 351-x may be analyzed to obtain a bar code,SKU, and/or identifier (e.g., item number, stock number, bar code, SKU,QR code, etc.) which may identify apparel (or type of apparel) that isscanned such as the AOC 351-x. For example, the system may employ anoptical scanner to read a code (e.g., bar code, SKU, QR code, etc.) oran identification number or the like on the AOC 351-x to identify it, orthe system may employ a camera to capture an image of the AOC 351-1 andidentify using image analysis techniques to identify the apparel 351-1or a portion thereof. In yet other embodiments, an identification of theAOC 351-x may be obtained manually e.g., by manually entering anidentification of the AOC 351-x. The system may obtain variousidentifiers for the AOC 351-1 such as stock number, item number, IDnumber, manufacturer identification, style number, type (e.g., men'spants, shirt, etc.), size, etc. In some embodiments, it is envisionedthat the system may further capture an image of the AOC 351-1 andperform image analysis to identify its apparel type (e.g., men's pants,etc.). In some embodiments, a user ID and/or a vendor ID may beassociated with an AOC 351-x 1. For example, a user may provide anapparel with the user's ID for scanning and digiforming. Similarly, avendor may provide an apparel with the vendor's ID for scanning anddigiforming. Thus, an apparel may include one or more IDs and digiforminformation may be associated with one or more of these. Once an AOC351-x is identified, the system may determine its apparel typeinformation (e.g., pants, shirt, blouse, jacket, gloves, hat, etc.). Theapparel type information may then be used by the system to select an AEfor performing a digiforming operation upon the corresponding AOC.

It is envisioned that all or select information (as may be set by thesystem and/or user) related to the AOC 351-x obtained during the process301 may be associated with the apparel and stored for later use. Forexample, a user may provide an ID with an apparel for digiforming.Information generated or obtained by the system may then be associatedwith this ID.

The sensor chamber 242 may include a plurality of sensors 320 which maybe suitable for detecting the AE 334 which may be inflated within an AOC351-x during a digiform operation. These sensors may then formcorresponding sensor information which may be suitable for determiningat least form, shape, and/or size of the AE 334 within the AOC 351-x.Accordingly, a controller of the system such as the controller 306 mayprocess this sensor information and determine a size, shape, and/orvolume of the AE 334 when inflated and may form corresponding DSI andDSCI. It is envisioned that other information related to the AOC such asone or more of ID, type, color, material, stretch, elasticity, etc., mayalso be sensed within the sensor chamber 242 or elsewhere along thefeeder line 360 such as in the pre-scan area I during a pre-scanningoperation as described above and the DSCI for the corresponding apparelmay be updated accordingly. One or more of the sensors 320 may be of thesame or of different types from the other and may include sensors suchas one or more of ultrasound, microwave, millimeter wave, X-ray, imagesensors, and/or the like. For example, one or more of the sensors 320may include a plurality of transducers which may transmit (e.g., 320-Tx)and/or receive (e.g., 320-Rx) signals in any desired electromagneticspectrum or spectrums such as microwave, millimeter wave, ultrasound,X-ray, infrared, visible spectrums and/or the like. Sensor informationfrom two or more sensors of the same or different types may be used tocheck for redundancy and scan results may be updated accordingly toassure accurate and precise digiform when desired.

The sensors 320 may include shape sensing sensors (SSSs) and may beconfigured to detect the form, shape, and/or size of the AE 334 during ascan of the AOC 351-x being scanned. Any suitable SSSs may be employedby the system provided that it may detect the AE within the AOC 351-xbeing scanned. SSSs may be selected by the controller 306 such that theymay adequately perform the scan of the corresponding AOC 351-x. Forexample, in some embodiments, the process may determine a type ofmaterial of the AOC 351-x being scanned and may select sensors and/orsensing types accordingly such that the selected sensors may accuratelydetect the AE 334 with the corresponding AOC 351-x during a scan. Inaccordance with some embodiments, these sensors may be selected inaccordance with system and/or user settings. Depending upon systemsettings, SSSs may be selected by the controller 306 such that they mayperform the scan without interference from the corresponding AOC 351-x.

During the scan one or more of the sensors may further capturemeasurements at various pressure levels (e.g., within the AE or portionsthereof) an inflation levels and capture elasticity information relatedto the AOC 351-x being scanned. The elasticity of the AOC 351-x may bebased upon, for example, its determined elastic modulus λ=stress/strainat one or more locations, where stress may be proportional to pressurewithin the AE and strain may be determined as a deformation of the AE.Thus, for example, if the AE is determined not to continue to expand atsampled locations as pressure within it increases, the system maydetermine that the AOC 351-x has a low elasticity at these locations.Conversely, if it is determined that AE continues to expand as pressurewithin it increases, then the AOC 351-0 x may have greater elasticity atthese locations. It is further envisioned that values of elasticity maybe determined in accordance with an elasticity table or tables ofpressure and expansion. Thus, the system may monitor pressure andexpansion of the AE to determine elasticity information for the AOC3512-x during a scan.

Scans for form, shape, and/or size (e.g., may be referred to as a shapescan) and/or elasticity while scans to identify an ID of an AOC may bereferred to as an ID scan.

It is envisioned that the sensors 320 may be rotated relative to AOCabout the AOC 351-2 being scanned so as to obtain full 3D informationabout the corresponding AOC 351-2 and/or the AE 334 therein.Accordingly, the system 301 may be configured to rotate the sensors 320about one or more axes associated with the sensor chamber 342 such as avertical axes Va which may be substantially parallel with an Az axis ofthe system as shown. In accordance with embodiments of the presentsystem, the sensors may rotate about one or more axes of the system,such as an Ax, Ay, and/or Az axis and/or combinations thereof, under thecontrol of the controller 306 so as to obtain sensor information thatmay include full 3D information about the AE 334 within AOC 351-2 duringa scan. Thereafter, this sensor information may be processed by thecontroller 306 to reconstruct a 3D or 4D model (e.g., a mesh comprisingnodes and lines or a solid service as may be set in accordance withsystem and/or user settings) of the AOC 351-2 that was scanned inaccordance with the sensed AE 334 and to generate corresponding DSI andDSCI for the AOC 351-2.

In yet other embodiments, it is envisioned that one or more of the AOC351-1 and the sensor 320 may be rotated or may remain stationary duringa scan under the control of the controller 306.

It is envisioned that the sensor information from one or more sensors ofthe sensors 320 may be stitched to produce a 2D, 3D, or 4D image andcorresponding DSI (e.g., digiform information). Accordingly, thecontroller 306 may be configured to stitch one or more images obtainedfrom the sensor information together as the sensors 320 are rotatedduring a scan. In yet other embodiments, it is envisioned that the scansmay be performed at different times and/or places and results may bestitched together.

It is envisioned that the sensors 320 and/or the AE 334 may be selectedto correspond each other in accordance sensor selection information(SESI) which information may be stored as in a memory of the system andwhich may be obtained by the system to select sensors 320 in accordancewith the AE 334. The SESI may include information which may matchsensors 320 in accordance with material of the AE. Accordingly, thecontroller 306 may obtain information related to one of the sensors 320and/or the AE 334 and match them for use in accordance with the SESI.This may assure that the sensors may properly detect the AE 334 during ascan. The match information may be stored in a memory of the system inassociation with ID information for one or more of the sensors 320and/or the AE 334. Thereafter the SESI and ID information may beobtained from the memory and analyzed by the controller 306 to determinea proper match between sensors 320 and AE 334. For example, thecontroller 306 may obtain an ID of the AE 334 (e.g., wirelessly, etc.)and may thereafter select one or more sensors 320 in accordance with theID information and the SESI to perform a scan.

Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, it isenvisioned that the controller 306 may select sensors and/or sensortypes (for performing a scanning operation during a digiformingoperation) in accordance with a detected type of AE 334 and/or AOC 351-xas may be set forth by the match information. For example, it isenvisioned that the controller 306 may select sensors which may be inaccord with one or more of the AE 334, the sensors 320 (e.g., in thesensor chamber 342), and/or an identification of the AOC 352-x to bescanned as may be set forth by relationship information such as thematch information as may be stored in the memory of the system. Thematch information may include information related to sensor ID, sensortype, AE information such as AE type, and/or AOC ID and associationsbetween this information such that cross-references may be obtainedusing any of the sensor ID, sensor type, AE information such as AE type,and/or AOC ID (e.g., apparel ID). Accordingly, the controller 306 mayproperly match one or more of the AEs, AOC, and sensors for adigiforming operation.

Accordingly, ID information related to one or more of the AE 334, thesensors 320, and/or an ID identification of the AOC 352-x to be scanned,may be obtained from a memory of the system and/or may be entered by auser. For example, the controller 306 may communicate with the AOC to bescanned to determine its type and/or ID using any suitable wired orwireless communication method. It is envisioned that the controller 306may optically (e.g., using image analysis) or wirelessly communicatewith an NFC or RFID tag of the AOC 351-x to determine its ID.

It is envisioned that the sensor chamber 342 may be configured toreceive one or more MIBAs 364-x or an appropriate MIBA 364-x may beguided inside the sensor chamber 342 based on the AOC's type (e.g.,men's pants, women's blouse, etc.) that is to be scanned in thecorresponding sensor chamber 342 as may be determined using any suitablemethod. For example, the controller 306 may determine a type of the AOC351-x (e.g., apparel type) to be scanned manually (e.g., through a userinput, etc.), optically (e.g., using image analysis of the apparel,scanning an ID tag on the apparel 351-x), and/or wirelessly (e.g., byreading an ID tag associated with the apparel). It is envisioned thatthat controller 306 may be operative to control one or more actuators ofthe system to retrieve and/or place a selected MIBa 364-x within thesensor chamber 342 when desired.

The distributor 318 of the MIBA 364-2 may be coupled to a supply 302which may be configured to provide the OPF to the distributor 318 via acoupler 344 such as a flow coupler. In some embodiments, the supply 302may include one or more pumps that may supply the OPF while in otherembodiments, the OPF may be obtained from an OPF source (e.g., acompressed gas source). The distributor 318 may include one or more of apump 316 driven by a motor 314. The motor, pump, and/or distributor 318of the MIBA 364-x may be controlled to generate pressure and/or vacuumas may be desired by the controller 306 during a digiforming operation.

The controller 306 may control the overall operation of the system andas such may communicate (e.g., using wired and/or wireless communicationand/or control methods) with, and/or control operation of, one or moreof the sensors 320, the feeder line 360, the supply 302 (e.g., such asan air pump, valves, etc.), the MIBA 364-x, the distributor 340,solenoids, actuators, pumps (e.g., pressure and/or vacuum pumps), etc.In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the controller306 may communicate with, and/or control, one or more actuators of thesystem 301 using wired and/wireless communication methods.

It is also envisioned that the controller 306 may control selection ofan appropriate MIBA 364-x for use during a scan in accordance withembodiments of the present invention. It is further envisioned that thecontroller 306 may control the MIBA 364-x and/or distributor using wiredand/or wireless communication methods.

In accordance with some embodiments, it is envisioned that once anappropriate MIBA 364-x is selected for an AOC 351-x, the controller 306may control a multi-axis actuator assembly (e.g., a robotic manipulator)to automatically obtain (e.g., from an MIBA supply area, etc.) theselected MIBA 364-x and couple it to the supply 302 and/or sensorchamber 342 for scanning the AOC 351-x. When desired (such as inresponse to an MIBA 364-x not being used for a current scan), themulti-axis actuator assembly may further be controlled by the controllerto uncouple an MIBA 364-x from the supply 302 and/or the sensor chamber342 and return it to the MIBA supply area. The robotic manipulator maybe mobile and have access to one or more portions of the system 301.

With regard to the AE 334, in some embodiments it is envisioned that theAE 334 may include a conductive, magnetic, and/or dielectric ink orcoating which may form (e.g., as a print) one or more specific patterns(e.g., a grid on the surface of AE, etc.) in order to assist indetection of the corresponding portion of the AE 334 by, for example,one or more of the sensors of the system 301 during a scan. Thesesensors may be referred to as shape-sensing sensors (SSS).

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, one or more ofthe sensors, such as the sensors 320 within the sensor chamber 342, maybe movable around the AOC 351-x being scanned so that sensor informationsuitable for generating information which may be employed to generate athree-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the AE 334 and/or the AOC 351-xbeing scanned. Accordingly, the system may sense and/or determine a 3Dform, shape, and/or size of the AOC being scanned based at least in partupon reconstructed sensor information of the scanned AE 334. It isenvisioned that the one or more of the sensors 320 may include one ormore of a transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) (e.g., see, 320-TX and320-RX, respectively) or both. With regard to sensor types, it isenvisioned that there may be more than one type of sensors or scanners.Some of them may be penetrating-type sensors (e.g. X-Ray, millimeterwave sensors, ultrasound, etc.) that can sense the form, shape, and/orsize of the AE 334 through the AOC 351-x being scanned. It is furtherenvisioned that one or more of the sensors 320 may include opticalsensors which may sense, for example, the exterior surface of AOC 351-x.Such sensors may include image capture devices, optical cameras, and/orany other suitable optical and/or range imaging systems.

For example, the system may employ a time-of-flight (ToF) camera whichmay employ one or more time-of-flight (ToF) techniques or methods todetermine a distance between the sensor (e.g., a camera) and the surfaceof one or more of the AOC 351-x being scanned and/or the AE 334 within.Suitable ToF methods employ signals generated by laser or led sources.It is further envisioned that the ToF methods may employ scanning LIDARmethods. Other types of ToF scanners may also be envisioned.

With regard to the sensor chamber 342, this chamber may be a physicalchamber which may include one or more dividers or walls or may includeone or more designated logical area(s) for sensing during a scanningoperation as may occur during a digiforming operation.

During operation, one or more objects such as AOCs selected to bescanned during a digiforming operation, may be coupled to or otherwiseloaded on the feeder line 360 using any suitable coupler such as the APS338. Once selected AOCs 351-x are coupled to the APS 338, they may beguided (e.g., in a serial or parallel manner) to the sensor chamber 342(e.g., as illustrated by arrow 353). The controller 306 may monitorposition of each APS 338 and/or AOCs 351-x attached thereto as they maybe guided along the feeder line 360 and/or portions thereof, such asthat portion of the feeder line 360 that is within the sensor chamber342. Then, when it is determined that the APS 338 is at a predeterminedposition (e.g., along the feeder line 360), the feeder line 360 may bepaused (e.g., stopped) and the APS 338 may be secured to a stationaryobject within the sensor chamber 342 such as the AES 312 via one or morecouplers such as MIBA couplers 354. It is assumed that the system hasselected an appropriate MIBA (i.e. the most suitable MIB for thecorresponding AOC (e.g., 351-2 as shown)), such as the MIBA 364-2, andpositioned it within the scanning chamber 342 such that the AE 334coupled thereto may enter one or more inner cavities of the AOC 351-x toexpand the AOC 351-x when desired for scanning under the control of thecontroller 306. The distributor 316 of the MIBA 364-2 may be coupled tothe supply 302 via the flow channel 344 so as to receive the OPFtherefrom when provided by the supply 302 under the control of thecontroller 306.

In some embodiments, it is envisioned that a plurality of sensorchambers 342 may be arranged in a serial manner along the feederline(s). Each of these sensor chambers 342 may include a MIBA 364-x withAEs of different types. Then, an AOC 351-x to be scanned during adigiforming operation may be matched to one or more of these AEs, andthe APS 338 with the corresponding AOC 351-x coupled thereto may bepositioned such that the matched AEs may enter a cavity of the AOC 351-xand inflate to expand the AOC 351-x for scanning in accordance withembodiments of the present invention. In yet other embodiments, it isenvisioned that each sensor chamber 342 may include a plurality of AEsof the same or of different types each of which may be configured toreceive a matched AOC. For example, AOCs of a type such as shirts may bematched to an AE of a first type and AOCs of a type such as pants may bematched to an AE of a second type. It is also envisioned that aplurality of AOCs of the same type may be processed in a single sensorchamber 342 including a plurality of matched AEs (e.g., for the apparel)at the same time (e.g., in a parallel manner). Thus, the layout of thesensor chamber may vary. In some embodiments the sensor chamber may bemobile.

Once the AOC 351-x is positioned within the sensor chamber 342 forscanning, the controller 306 may then control the supply 302 to supply apressurized flow of OPF (e.g., by activating the motor 314 to drive thepump 316 and control any valves accordingly) to inflate the AE 334within the AOC 351-2. As the AE 334 is inflated, the sensors 320 maymonitor the form, shape, and/or size of the AOC 351-2 from the outside(e.g., using sensors of a first type such as optical sensors) while theform, shape, and/or size of the AE 334 may be monitored by sensors of asecond type such as penetrating sensors (PSs). The controller 306 maythe obtain sensor information from one or more sensors of the system 320and if the AE 334 is determined to begin to fit snugly as may bedetermined from force or pressure sensors (e.g., FPSs such as capacitiveforce sensors of the like) on the AE 334 and/or by monitoring an amountof expansion of the AE and the shape of the inflated AE and AOC overtime within the apparel 351-2 in an approximate anatomical form, shape,and/or size of a human body which may correspond with the AOC (e.g., asdetermined by image analysis of optical information acquired by one ormore of the sensors 320 and comparing this information with known AOCtype (e.g., shirt, pants, etc.)), then, the controller 306 may recordthe form, shape, and/or size of AOOC 351-2, the form, shape, and/or size(e.g., in 2- or 3D) of AE 334, the volume and/or the pressure of the OPFinside the AE 334 and store this information for later use.

It is envisioned that the controller 306 may control the system 301 suchthat measurements may be captured at various pressure levels and/orinflation level (for each compartment of AE 334) during a scan of theAOC 351-2 to capture the elasticity information of the apparel. Thiselasticity information may be determined in accordance with sensorinformation from the FPSs and/or by analyzing the change in the form,shape, and/or size of the AE 334 in relation to pressure over time. Forexample, the change in the 3D form of the AE 334 may be limited andproportional to the elasticity of the AOC 351-x which it is expandingduring a scan. A 3D model including elasticity information may bereconstructed from this data using signal processing and imageprocessing algorithms or other suitable imaging methods and/ortechniques.

After (shape) scanning is complete, the system 301 may be operative todeflate the inflated AE 334 (e.g., by venting the OPF to atmosphereand/or by applying a vacuum to the AE 334 until it is substantially orfully collapsed and/or a desired vacuum is sensed by the controller 306.This may minimize the AE 334 for insertion into another AOC during anext scan.

This process may be repeated more than once for the same AOC when, forexample, more than one MIBA and AE may be employed for scanning forform, shape, and/or size as may be desirable when complex AOC mayrequire multiple AEs for scanning. For example, the arms of a dress maybe scanned and thereafter the torso of the dress may be scanned. Inaccordance with some embodiments, one or more AEs may be inserted intoan apparel from below rather than from above the apparel as shown.

In some embodiments, an ID of an AOC may be scanned and associated withSSI or VEI of a shopper or vendor, respectively. The system may thendetermine whether DSI for the apparel exists. If it is determined thatDSI for the apparel exists, it may obtain this DSI from a memory of thesystem and may associate it with the ID of the AOC and the correspondingSSI or VEI. If the DSI does not exist, however, the system may renderinformation indicating such and may render a request that that this AOCbe provided for digiforming to obtain DSI. Once this AOC is digiformedand DSI is obtained, the DSI it may be stored in a memory of the systemin association with the ID of the AOC as DSCI. This DSCI may beassociated with the corresponding SSI or VEI. It is also envisioned thatan option may be provided for a shopper to have the particular AOCdigiformed and corresponding DSCI may then be associated with the SSI ofthe shopper and stored in a memory of the system for later use.

In this regard, the system may generate and render a user interface withwhich a user, such as a shopper, may generate one or more labels (e.g.,shipping and/or handling labels) and/or ID tags for the AOC to bedigiformed. The one more AOC may then be shipped to a digiforming centerand thereafter received for digiforming at the digiforming center. Afterdigiforming, DSCI (e.g., digiform information) for corresponding AOCs ofthe one or more AOCs may be associated with the SSI of the shopper andstored in a memory of the system for later use. The system may thengenerate and render a user interface with which the shopper may interactto access this digiform information and/or interact with a userinterface of the system to perform virtual alterations and form DSCI inaccordance with these alterations and which may be referred to asdesired DSCI and may be stored in a memory of the system. Thereafter,the desired DSCI may be compared with DSCI of a vendor to determine amatch score and/or to recommend one or more AOCs (apparel) of a vendorto the shopper for trying on and/or purchase.

It is envisioned that the system may generate shipping labels and/orpackages for transmitting one or more AOCs to a user such as a shopperor vendor and/or receiving one or more AOCs from the corresponding user.

A detailed top view of a portion of a feeder line digiforming system 401(generally system 401) including a plurality of feeder lines inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. The system 401 may include a plurality of feeder lines 360, 360A, and360B (generally feeder line 360 x) which may be similar to each otherand to the feeder line 360 of FIG. 3 and may be arranged in a parallelconfiguration. Each feeder line 360 x may include one or more rails. Forexample, feeder lines 360 and 360B include a mono-rail configurationwhile feeder line 360A may include a dual rail configuration includingfirst and second rails 360A1 and 360A2, respectively, that may beparallel or substantially parallel to each other.

Each feeder line 360, 360A, and 360B may have an associated sensorchamber 344, 342A, and 342B, respectively, and may include acorresponding MIBA 364-2, 364-A, and 364-B, respectively, and may beconfigured to guide one or more APS 338 coupled thereto through one ormore areas such as areas I through III as discussed elsewhere in thisapplication.

It will be assumed that each of the MIBAs 364-x may be different fromeach other such that different types of clothing (e.g., pants, shirts,skirts, etc.) may be guided into a corresponding feeder line 360 forscanning by a matching MIBA 364-x for the apparel 351-x being scanned bythe system for digiforming. In yet other embodiments, it is envisionedthat one or more of the MIBAs 364-x, such as MIBA 364-1, may positionedby the system using one or more actuators such as a robotic arm 366which may provide multi-axes control of at least position and/ororientation of one or more of the MIBAs 364-x, such as the MIBA 364-1,so that the corresponding MIBA 364-x, such as the MIBA 364-1, may beloaded into a corresponding sensor chamber, such as the sensor chamber342, when desired, under the control of a controller of the system.

One or more AOCs 351-x may be coupled to corresponding APSs 338 byapparel couplers 362 and may be scanned in a corresponding sensorchamber 342, 342A and 342B, by sensors 320 of the corresponding sensorchamber 342, 342A and 342B which may be stationary or may be guided inone or more desired directions by the controller 306 such as about thevertical axis Va of the corresponding sensing chamber 342, 342A and342B.

For example, the system 301 may be operative to rotate the sensors 320about one or more axes associated with the sensor chamber 342 such as avertical axes Az during a scanning operation as illustrated by arrow357. In yet other embodiments, however, it is envisioned that the system301 may be operative to rotate the sensors 320 about one or more of theother axes associated with the sensor chamber 342 such as axes Ax and/orAy during a scanning operation. Thus, one or more of the sensors 320 mayhave one or more degrees-of-freedom which may be controlled by, forexample, a multi axes actuator under the control of the controller 306.Various scanning patterns for scanning an apparel during a digiformingoperation may be provided and stored in a memory of the system for lateruse such as when scanning an apparel of a corresponding type and/or ID.

In some embodiments, it is envisioned that the AOC and/or the sensorsmay move in a linear manner relative to each other rather thanrotational manner. For example, the sensors may form a ring throughwhich the AOC may travel in a liner manner, or vice versa, under thecontrol of a controller of the system.

It is assumed that each of each of the APSs 338 coupled to the feederlines 360 and 360B may be configured (e.g., slightly offset from thecorresponding feeder line) so that an opening 356 of a correspondingAPSs 338 may be accessed by the corresponding AE which is to be insertedat least partially through the opening for inflation and scanning of anapparel 351-x coupled to the corresponding APS 338. With regard to theAPSs 338 coupled to the feeder line 360A, these APSs 338 may be coupledto both of the feeder lines 360A1 and 360A2 such that access to itsopening 356 is not covered or otherwise restricted. MIBAs 364-x besupported such that an AE associated therewith may be inserted into anopening 356 of a corresponding APS 338 for scanning.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the system maydetect clothing (e.g., AOC or an AOCs) that may have prematurelyseparated from their associated APS 338 and may control one or moreactuators such as the robotic arm 366 to retrieve the prematurelyseparated AOC and place this AOC in a desired location such as in aretrieval bin. In yet other embodiments, it is envisioned that thecontroller of the system may be operative to control the robotic arm 366to couple an apparel to a respective APS 338 for scanning. The APS 338may be situated on a corresponding feeder line 360-x or may then beplaced on a selected feeder line 360-x of the system for scanning. Insome embodiments a feeder line switchover system may be provided toswitch an APS from one feeder line to another.

A detailed front top perspective view of a portion of the system 301 ofFIG. 3 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention is shownin FIG. 5 . The sensor chamber 342 may be transparent and may includeone or more openings 358 and one or more doors, and may be made from anysuitable material to provide any desirable shielding of noise and/oremitted radiation such as electro-magnetic radiation (EMF), etc. Forexample, if X-ray sensors are employed for scanning, then the sensorchamber 342 may employ a suitable X-ray shielding (e.g., lead, gold,etc.). Similarly, if laser scanners may be employed, then the sensorchamber 342 may employ a suitable laser light filter (e.g., laserfiltering glass, etc.). This may reduce or entirely eliminateundesirable radiation from being emitted by the sensor chamber 342during use. The one or more doors may be hinged or sliding and may beautomatically controlled by a controller of the system to open or closewhen an AOC is to enter and/or exit the sensor chamber 342.

In some embodiments, it is envisioned that the feeder line may becontinuous or discontinuous. For example, in some embodiments, thefeeder line may be discontinuous outside of the sensor chamber and maybe continuous within the sensor chamber, as may be desired. Adiscontinuous feeder line may aid in manual coupling or decoupling of anAPS to the feeder line at a location where the feeder line isdiscontinuous.

It would be appreciated that embodiments of the present inventionprovide for a system, which may hang AOCs on a feeder line forming atleast part of a moving assembly line such that these apparel may beguided one-by-one into a sensor chamber where an appropriate AE such asan inflatable partial mannequin matched to a type of the apparel to bescanned may be inserted and inflated within the apparel. By matching theAE, its mannequin may have a similar style and form, shape, and/or sizeas the AOC to be scanned but may be larger in size (when inflated) thanthe AOC. Hence beyond a certain inflation, the form, shape, and/or sizeof the mannequin may be constrained and may be defined by the innercavity of the AOC. The material of the mannequin and sensors may beselected such that the sensors may be sufficient to sense the form,shape, and/or size of the mannequin through the material of the AOC. Forexample, X-ray-type sensors may be employed where the AOC may be formedfrom a bone-like material. Accordingly, a suitable mannequin may beselected (e.g., a mannequin including an X-ray blocking material orlayer such as lead, gold, or the like) so that it may be scanned inassociation with the AOC.

Various APS will now be discussed in further detail. In accordance withembodiments of the present invention, the APSs may be configured to besecurely coupled to the feeder line so as to prevent undesirable motionand/or decoupling from the feeder line. Apparel couplers may be providedto couple an AOC to the APS at one or more discrete or continuouspoints. In some embodiments the apparel couplers may be include abiasing member (e.g., a clip like biasing member) to securely couple theapparel. Tabs may be provided for a user to grasp to release the AOCfrom the apparel coupler. In some embodiments, the apparel coupler mayinclude a biasing member that may be controlled by the controller, suchas an electromagnetic coupler, a solenoid driven coupler, etc., whichmay be configured to secure the AOC to the apparel coupler. The apparelcouplers should be numerous enough and/or provide sufficient force toprevent an AOC coupled thereto from being unexpectedly dislodged fromthe apparel couplers and/or APS during inflation of the AE.

The APS may include one or more openings or notches through which an AEmay be inserted. These one or more openings should not be blocked by thefeeder line during insertion and/or removal of the AEs during use.

It is envisioned that the APS may include indicia which may provideindication of where apparel couplers may be placed by apparel type. Theindicia may be textual, graphical, and/or embossed (e.g., dimples,groves, etc.).

It is envisioned that during the inflation of AE, the APS should besufficiently rigid and/or stable and firmly to hold the apparel andcounter any downward pressure (e.g., which may due to inflation of theAE). Accordingly, the apparel may be inflated or otherwise expanded asthe AE situated within is inflated.

It is envisioned that during inflation, the apparel couplers should becoupled to a corresponding AOC such that the AOC and/or the apparelcouplers may be able to have one or more degrees of travel to someextent along one or more desired planes such as on a horizontal plane(e.g., along Ax and/or Ay axes) in the present embodiments as may bedesired. For example, this may assure that the AOC may have limited freetravel in the horizontal plane but may be restricted with respect totravel in the vertical axis (e.g., Az axis) when coupled to the apparelcoupler. This freedom of travel may provide for proper expansion of theAE within the AOC while preventing undue stress on the AOC duringinflation. It would be further appreciated that during inflation, thecontroller may monitor stress on the AOC and may act to reduce thestress if detected such as by controlling the supply to lower pressurewithin the AE (e.g., deflating the AE), to lower and raise pressurewithin the AE, and/or to control a rate of pressure increase within theAE, etc. before or during a scan. The controller may further render analert to inform a user of detected stress events outside of a thresholdand may update history information for the AOC to indicate the detectedstress event and/or system parameters (e.g., pressure, systemconfiguration, system settings, etc.) associated therewith. Stress maybe detected by monitoring using any suitable method or methods such asby monitoring for unusual contours (e.g., unexpected or shapes beyond aset threshold, seam splits, etc.) of the AOC and/or AE during inflationwhich may be detected by one or more sensors of the system.

APSs in accordance with embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 6 through FIG. 11 , wherein: a top viewof a portion of an APS 638 in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 6 ; a cross sectional view of a portion ofthe APS 638 in accordance with embodiments of the present inventiontaken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6 is shown in FIG. 7 ; a cross sectionalview of a portion of the APS 638 in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 6 is shown in FIG. 8 ; aside view of a portion of the APS 638 of FIG. 6 in accordance withembodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 9 ; a topperspective view of a portion of the APS 638 of FIG. 6 in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 10 ; and abottom perspective view of a portion of the APS 638 of FIG. 6 inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 11.

A detailed front perspective view of a portion of the apparel coupler662 of FIG. 9 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention isshown in FIG. 12 . A detailed side view of a portion of the apparelcoupler 662 of FIG. 12 in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 13 .

A cross sectional view of a portion of the APS 338 (638 is similar),coupled to feeder lines 360 taken along lines 14-14 of FIG. 4 inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 14. A detailed exploded side view of a portion of the apparel coupler 362of FIG. 13 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention isshown in FIG. 15 .

With reference to FIGS. 6 through 14 , the APS 638 may be similar to theAPS 338 (and may be referred to as an inflation hanger (IH)) and mayinclude one or more of a body 670 having first and second surfaces 672and 674, respectively, which may be opposed to each other. The body 670may be of any shape or shapes such as round, oval, square, rectangular,polygonal, etc., when viewed from the top as may be desired an mayinclude at least one opening 656 through which an AE may be insertedthrough the body 670 and which may be inflated during scanning of anapparel 351 such as may occur during a digiforming operation. The body670 may include one or more raised portions such as flanges 676 and 678(e.g., raised edges) which may define the lateral movement area for andto contain one or more couplers such as apparel couplers 662 duringhandling and/or operation (e.g., should an apparel coupler 662, orportions thereof, become dislodged during inflation of the AE, etc.).The body 670 may include a rigid planar surface defined by the first andsecond surfaces 672 and 674, respectively.

One or more couplers 680 may be coupled to the body 670 and may beconfigured to couple to a corresponding feeder line 360 so as to couplethe APS 638 to one or more of the feeder lines 360. More particularly,the one or more couplers 680 may include a slot 684 (e.g., a horizontalslot) and a cavity 686 which may be configured to receive acorresponding portion of the feeder line 360 such as a guide, rail,and/or track of the corresponding feeder line 360 as illustrated withreference to FIG. 14 . One or more of the body 670, the couplers 680,and/or the feeder line(s) 360 may include a low-friction surface, and/ora lubricant to reduce friction as may be desired, so as to providedesired freedom of movement. In yet other embodiments, the couplers mayincorporate plain (e.g., Teflon™, ceramic, etc.), roller or ballbearings to reduce friction.

One or more openings may be provided to move the APS 638 during use. Forexample, openings 681 may be situated in one or more of the flanges 676and may be configured to receive a coupler such as a rod or cable (e.g.,see, MIBA couplers 354, FIG. 3 ) which may pass therethrough and whichmay be configured to move the APS 638 to another portion of the system301 such as to an AES (e.g., see AES 12, FIG. 3 ) as may be desired.

With regard to the apparel couplers 662, these couplers may beconfigured to couple an AOC 351 to the body 670 of the APS 638 using anysuitable method such as magnetic coupling. For example, the apparelcouplers 663 may include a lower coupler 688 and an upper coupler 698which may be coupled to each other via any suitable coupling such amagnetic coupling (e.g., using a permanent magnet or electromagneticcoupling which may be controlled by a controller of the system), etc.For example, it is envisioned that the lower coupler 688 may bemagnetically coupled to the opposed upper coupler 698 situated on theopposed side of the body 670 of the APS 638. The body 670 may have afriction reducing coating such as a low-friction Teflon™ coating or thelike on a surface thereof which may allow for some movement of theopposed upper and lower couplers 688 and 698, respectively, in ahorizontal plane (e.g., Ax-Ay plane as shown). The apparel couplers 662may form an anchor point for anchoring the AOC to the APS 638. An APS638 may include an arbitrary number of anchor points one or more ofwhich may be used for coupling an AOC depending upon apparel type.

It is envisioned that upper coupler 698 may include one or more of amagnetic base 693 and a handle (or tab) 695 suitable for grasping by auser or robotic arms as shown in FIG. 16A and may be configured tomagnetically couple to the lower coupler 688.

The lower coupler 688 may include one or more of a magnetic base 689,and a spring clip 696 coupled to each other via a flexible coupler suchas a strap 690, a spring, a cable, etc. The spring clip 696 may includea circular body which may act as a biasing member and may be coupled toopposed flanges 694 so that a biasing force may be exerted upon theopposed flanges 694. One or more tabs 692 suitable for grasping by auser may be coupled to the spring clip 696 to urge its biasing member ina direction opposite its biasing force so as to urge the opening of theopposed flanges 694 as may be desired. When opened, a portion of the AOCmay be placed between the opposed flanges 694 of the spring clip 696 andmay be firmly held in place when the opposed flanges 694 are biasedagainst each other by the spring clip 696 with a portion of the AOCtherebetween.

In some embodiments, however, it is envisioned that the apparel couplermay employ an electromagnetic apparel coupler which may be controlled bythe controller to couple or decouple an AOC from the APS 638.Accordingly, coupling and/or decoupling of an AOC may be automaticallycontrolled by the controller. For example, a robotic manipulator mayplace an AOC into the apparel coupler and thereafter the apparel couplermay be activated to secure the AOC in place. After scanning, the apparelcoupler may be deactivated to provide for the removal of the AOC fromthe apparel coupler.

Thus, embodiments of the present invention may employ a pair of magneticcouplers (e.g., the upper and lower magnetic couplers 698 and 688,respectively) at opposed sides of the body 670 such that they may movefreely over and under the body 670 in a horizontal plane (e.g., theAx/Ay plane) and have little to no movement (e.g., restricted movement)in a vertical plane (e.g., the Az plane). It is further envisioned thathorizontal movement of anchor points securing the apparel may berestricted by the raised flanges 676 and 678. The at least one opening656 may be defined by the flange 678. It is also envisioned that theraised flanges 676 and 678 may control movement of the anchor points soas to assure that the AOC 351 has at least a minimum opening to itsinternal cavity suitable for receiving the AE.

During the inflation of AE, the one or more couplers 680 may beconfigured to couple the APS 638 to one or desired objects such as theone or more feeder lines 360 so as to hold the APS 638 stationary orsubstantially stationary. As the APS 638 may be held stationary, thismay assure that there is little to no vertical movement of the apparelcouplers 662 (e.g., acting as anchor points for the coupled AOC) in avertical direction but the apparel couplers 662 (e.g., acting as theanchor points for the AOC) may be free to move in a horizontal plane(e.g., relative to the body 670 of the APS 638) within the confines ofthe flanges 676 and 678 to reduce stress on the coupled apparel as theAE is inflated within the apparel. With regard to FIGS. 12 through 15the opposite views may be substantially similar and are not shown forthe sake of clarity.

The controller of the system may selectively control position and/orinflation of the AE during use such that the AE may be inserted througha small opening in the AOC (e.g., a collar opening, a sleeve opening,hem opening, etc.) and may be properly inflated after insertion.Different types of AEs may be selected by the controller or user forinsertion into cavities of an AOC.

A perspective view of a portion of a system 1601A including multi-axiscontrol of apparel anchor points in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 16A. The system 1601A may include aplurality of actuators 1671 each coupled to a corresponding uppercoupler 1698 of an apparel coupler 1662 pair having coupled upper andlower couplers pairs 1698 and 1688, respectively, and which may besituated on opposite sides of an AES 1638 and may be configured to bemagnetically coupled to each other. It is envisioned that the pluralityof actuators 1671 may include multi-axis robotic functionality under thecontrol of a controller. The apparel coupler 1662 may be coupled to anAOC 351 and may be maneuvered by the plurality of actuators 1671 underthe control of a controller of the system. More particularly, one ormore of the plurality of actuators 1671 may move the upper coupler 1698to which it is coupled, and the upper controller 1698 may move the lowercoupler 1688 that is magnetically coupled to it accordingly.Accordingly, the upper coupler 1698 may include coupler to couple to thecorresponding actuator 1671. The location of each of the apparel couplerpairs 1662 may define an AOC anchor point. The plurality of actuators1671 may further be coupled to a distributor 1618 or any other rigidportion. This may provide for the controller to control positions of oneor more of the plurality of actuators 1671 so as to control positions ofone or more of the apparel couplers 1662 coupled to corresponding one ofthe plurality of actuators 1671 at any given time during inflation of anAE in the AOC 351. Thus, the controller may control the position of oneor more of the apparel anchor points. The distributor 1618 may be flowcoupled to the AE and may provide an OPF to the AE under the control ofthe controller.

A front view of a portion of a system 1601B having rigid telescopicactuators 1673 for controlling a position of an AE 1634B in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 16B. Here,instead of only relying on pressure in AE to expand AOC, one or moresolid rods may be employed to perform and/or assist expansion of atleast a part of the AOC. The system 1601B, may include a plurality ofactuator arms 1673 (e.g., solid rods) each coupled to a distributor1618B and a corresponding portion of the AE 1634. The actuator arms 1673may be rigid (e.g., rigid guides) and may telescope (e.g., as indicatedby arrow 1675) relative to the distributor 1618 under the control of acontroller of the system 1601B. Accordingly, position of one or more ofthe actuator arms 1673 may be controlled to exert a force to moveportions of the AE 1634B attached thereto so as to aid in the insertionof the AE 1634B into an AOC during use. The plurality of actuator arms1673 may be coupled to the distributor 1618B of an MIBA and may includeactuators which may control their position under the control of acontroller. It is envisioned that the actuator arms 1673 may be rotatedalong or about one or more axes as may be desired. Further it isenvisioned that a distance between the actuator arms 1673 may be variedso that they may move relative to each other such that they may becloser or further away from each other. Although the actuator arms 1673are shown substantially parallel to each other they may have otherorientations relative to each other as may be controlled by a userand/or a controller of the system.

A perspective view of a portion of an AE 1634C with a plurality ofcompartments 1641-1 through 1641-3 in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 16C. The AE 1634C may be divided intothe plurality of compartments 1641-1 through 1641-3 each coupled adistributor 1618 via flow channels 1643-1 through 1643-3, respectively.These flow channels 1618-x may be independent of each other mayselectively flow the OPF to/from the corresponding compartment 1643-xunder the control of the distributor 1618C. Accordingly, the distributor1618C may independently control the pressure within each of thecompartments 1641-x under control of a controller of the system. Thismay be particularity useful for measuring the elasticity of differentsegments of an apparel. Moreover, it may provide control over thesequence of the compartments (which may form segments) of the AE to beinflated and deflated during operation.

A perspective view of a portion of an AE 1634D with a plurality ofcompartments 1641-1 through 1641-3 each having (internal) vents 1647 ofdifferent sizes in accordance with embodiments of the present inventionis shown in FIG. 16D. More particularly, the AE 1634D may be shaped as atorso with the torso and arms each having a plurality of adjacentcompartments 1641-x one of which receives OPF from a distal end of aflow channel 1643. These, adjacent compartments 1641-x may be separatedby a corresponding barrier 1645 of a plurality of barriers 1645 eachhaving a vent 1647 of a different size from a vent 1647 (e.g., anopening) of an adjacent barrier 1645 such that the size of the vents1647. It is envisioned that the size of these vents may be the same sizeas each other or may decrease as the further they are from thecompartment which receives the OPF from the flow channel 1643. In yetother embodiments, the size of the vents in sleeves of the AE may bedifferent from (e.g., smaller than, etc.), the size of the vents in atorso portion of the AE. Different vent sizes between the compartments1641-x may provide for some degree of control over which compartment1641-x may be inflated first. For instance, when trying to insert an AEfor an upper body in an AOC, such as a dress, through the opening for aneck, it may be desirable to inflate and expand a torso portion of thefirst and then inflate the sleeves fully. This can be achieved even witha single air inlet/outlet 1643 providing the air (e.g., the OPF) to eachof the compartments 1641-x when compartments 1641-x of the torso areconnected via larger air vents 1647 and compartments 1641-x in thesleeve may be connected via smaller air vents 1647. In some embodiments,it is envisioned that the controller may inflate the AE to at leastpartially position the AE relative to the AOC and may then deflate theAE at least partially before inflating it a second time to position theAE relative to the AOC. This inflation pattern may be repeated severaltimes before final inflation for a scan is performed.

A perspective view of a portion of an AE 1634E with a pinchedcompartment in accordance with embodiments of the present invention isshown in FIG. 16E. It is envisioned that any two points on a surface ofAE 1634E (or walls of compartments within) may be held together by apinch 1653 using any suitable method to generate a suitable force withwhich to generate the pinch 1653 such as an electromagnetic/magneticand/or by mechanical means. Such a pinch may be released by a controllerof the system using wired and/or wireless communication methods whendesired. In some embodiments it is envisioned that the pinch 1653 may bereleased only when an inflation pressure acting against it may exceed athreshold value (e.g., 3 psi, etc.). This may provide for the controlledposition during inflation of the AE 1634E.

With regard to clothing for special-sized clothing such as clothing forfull-sized individuals, big and tall, obese, pregnant, etc., the systemmay include specific AEs for this clothing. For example, a perspectiveview of a portion of an AE 1634F with a specific obesity-type pattern inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG.16F. The AE 1634F may include one or more special compartments 1641Fwhich may be configured to physically copy the form, shape, and/or sizeof one or more desired patterns such as obesity patterns, pregnancypatterns, and the like (e.g., pot belly, pregnancy pattern, etc.), andsuch compartments may be inflated with, or separately from, otherportions of the AE and in the latter case may include an independentinflation control compared to other parts of AE 1634F. For instance,compartment 1641F may be shaped and sized to such that it may be inaccord with a form and growth of stomach fat of a pot-bellied individualsuch as may be common in middle-aged men.

It is also envisioned that AEs of various types may include pleated orfolding patterns. For example, an AE may be configured in a way suchthat it may include an origami-like folding pattern which allow it toexpand and/or contract in a predetermined fashion, instead of ballooningup in a spherical shape. The AEs may be contoured for upper-body (e.g.,upper anatomy) scans (e.g., shirts, jackets, etc.) and lower-body (e.g.,lower-anatomy) scans (e.g., pants, skirts, etc.). The AEs may also befitted for expected type of apparel. For example, with regard tolower-body apparel scans, the AEs may be fitted uniquely for smaller andlarger sized apparel as well as unique sized apparel such as largerthighs, etc. Accordingly, one or more compartments or areas of theseuniquely-fitted AEs may include a form, shape, and/or size which may fita corresponding AOC for scanning.

Various AEs of upper body apparel such as shirts and jackets, and lowerbody apparel such as pants, and dresses, and/or uniquely shaped apparel,will be discussed with reference to FIG. 17A through FIG. 17G; wherein apartially cutaway perspective front view of a portion of an AE 1734Awith at least a folded leg pattern in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 17A; a partially cutaway perspectiveside view of a portion of an AE 1734B with at least a folded leg patternin accordance with embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG.17B; a partially cutaway a perspective view of a portion of an AE 1734Cwith at least a folded arm pattern in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 17C; a partially cutaway perspectiveview of a portion of an AE 1734D having a dress pattern inflating adress in accordance with embodiments of the present invention is shownin FIG. 17D; a partially cutaway perspective view of the dress inflatedby a portion of the AE 1734D of FIG. 17D in accordance with embodimentsof the present invention is shown in FIG. 17E; a front view of a portionof the AE 1734D of FIG. 17D in a substantially folded position inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG.17F; and a side view of a portion of the AE 1734B of FIG. 17B with atleast a folded leg pattern in a substantially folded position inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG.17G.

With regard to FIG. 17A, the AE 1734A may be coupled to a distributorvia flow channels 1743A which may provide an OPF to, or from, one ormore expansion chambers such as ECs 1736A situated within the AE 1734Aand a corresponding leg of an AOC 1751A to expand the corresponding areaof the AOC 1751A in which it may be at least partially situated during ascan. It is envisioned that one or more ECs of different shape, volume,and/or type may be coupled to an AE and may be flow coupled by a flowchannel to a distributor so as to receive an OPF from the distributor.

With regard to FIG. 17B, the AE 1734B may be similar to a side view ofthe AE 1734A and may be coupled to a distributor via flow channels 1743Bwhich may provide an OPF to, or from, one or more expansion chamberssuch as ECs 1736B1 and 1736B2 situated within the AE 1734B to expand anAOC 1731B such as long pants in which the AE 1734B may be at leastpartially situated. Here the EC 1736B1 may be configured to fit a largerthigh volume.

With regard to FIG. 17C, the AE 1734C may be coupled to a distributorvia flow channels 1743C which may provide an OPF to, or from, one ormore expansion chambers such as ECs 1736C1 and 1736C2 situated withinthe AE 1734C to expand an AOC 1751C such as a long-sleeved shirt inwhich it may be is at least partially situated during a scan. Here theEC 1736B2s may be unique to fit a long-sleeve shirt style of the apparel1751C.

With regard to FIG. 17D, the AE 1734D may be coupled to a distributorvia flow channels 1743D which may pass through or otherwise enter abottom portion or hem opening of an AOC 1751D and may provide an OPF to,or from, one or more expansion chambers such as ECs 1736D1 and 1736D2situated within the AE 1734D to expand an AOC 1751D such as along-sleeved dress in which it may be is at least partially situatedduring a scan. Here the EC 1736B2s may be unique to fit the AOC 1751which is a long-sleeve dress style. With regard to FIG. 17E, all orselect buttons, zippers, snaps, etc. of the apparel 1751D may be closedduring a scan. For example, zipper 1753 may be zipped up for the scan.Further, as this apparel may have a larger opening on the bottom at thehem side (e.g., opposite the neck opening), the AE 1734 may be insertedfrom this opening as opposed to the neck opening. Further, it would beappreciated that an AOC may be coupled to the APS in any suitableorientation. For example, with regard to jackets with a larger openingon the bottom as opposed to the top (e.g., the neck opening), the jacketmay be closed and coupled to the APS in an orientation such that its hem(e.g., bottom) may be coupled to the APS as may be desired.

It is also envisioned that AEs may be built from one or more EC'scoupled to together. For example, an exploded partially-cutawayperspective view of a portion of an AE 1834 formed from a plurality ofECs such as illustrated by ECs 1836-1 through 1836-4 (generally 1836-x)coupled together in accordance with embodiments of the present inventionis shown in FIG. 18A. The ECs 1836-x may be inflatable, and may eachinclude a body 1877 defining at least one chamber 1859 coupled to acoupler 1879 including at least one flow passage for receiving and/orpassing the OPF, when desired, to/from an adjacent EC 1836-x coupledthereto. The coupler 1879 may include any suitable coupler and mayinclude a flow passage configured to passage of the OPF to/from the atleast one chamber 1859 to an adjacent EC 1836-x. For example, thecoupler 1879 may include male-female-type coupler which may include anopening such as a cylindrical opening 1861 configured to receive apiston 1863 using any suitable fit such as an interference fit, abayonet mount, a tab and notch, etc. Each of the cylindrical openings1861 and/or the pistons 1863 may be coupled to at least one chamber 1859of a corresponding one of the ECs 1836-x via at least one flow channel.For example, a flow channel may pass through the piston 1863 to the atleast one chamber 1859 of a corresponding EC 1836-x. One or more sealssuch as a ring seal 1855 may be provided to seal against pressure and/orvacuum loss at the corresponding coupler. An optional cap 1869 may seala portion of one or more couplers 1879 such the cylindrical opening 1861and the adjacent piston 1863 as shown. One or more optional fasteners1867 such as hook-and-loop-type fasteners, magnetic fasteners,interference-type fasteners, bayonet-type fasteners, etc., may beprovided to couple one or more adjacent ECs 1836-x to each other and/orto other portions of the system and may be placed as desired.

One or more of the ECs 1836-x may be shaped as desired. For example, theEC 1836-1 may be shaped as a partial torso and may receive the ECs1836-2 through 1836-4 which, in combination, may be shaped anatomicallyto mimic a portion of an arm. It is further envisioned that one or moreof the ECs 1836-x may include a rigidity enhancing member such as a wireor wire-type frame to provide rigidity to one or more portions of theECs 1836-x. It is further envisioned that the coupler 1879 may bepartially, or fully, rigid to provide for functionality thereof. The ECs1836-x may further include one or more folds to aid in the folding ofthe corresponding EC 1836-x when vacuumed. In some embodiments, the ECsmay be formed from an electro-active polymer whose shape and/or size maybe controlled by a controller of the system.

One or more force sensors 1871 (e.g., capacitive force sensors) may beprovided one on or more surfaces of the AE 1834 or ECs of the system andmay provide force information which may be employed by a controller ofthe system to determine elasticity of an AOC being scanned. For example,as the AE expands, a controller of the system may determine elasticityin accordance with (a pneumatic) pressure within the AE or portionsthereof and the force information to determine elasticity of the AOCbeing scanned.

A rear view of a portion of the EC 1836-2 in accordance with embodimentsof the present invention is shown in FIG. 18B. The cylindrical opening1861 may define a flow channel leading to the cavity 1859 so as toprovide passage of a fluid such as the OPF to/from the cavity 1859.

A front view of a portion of the EC 1836-2 in accordance withembodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 18C. The cavity1859 may be coupled the piston 1863 via the flow channel 1865.

It is envisioned that ECs such as the ECs 1836-x may include variousshapes to fit various types, styles, shapes, and/or sizes of clothing.For example, an exploded partially-cutaway perspective view of a portionof the AE 1834 coupled to optional ECs 1836-5 through 1836-7 coupledtogether in accordance with embodiments of the present invention isshown in FIG. 19 . The Optional ECs 1836-5, 1836-6, and 1836-7 (each ofwhich is shown flattened and may have one or more folds) may be coupledto one or more of the ECs 1836-x such as the EC 1836-1 and may be shapedand/or sized to fit various types and/or sizes of clothing. For example,EC 1836-5 may be shaped and sized to fit large-chest-sized clothing. EC1836-6 may be shaped and sized to fit portly or stout sized clothing.Similarly, EC 1836-7 may be vest-shaped and may be shaped and sized tobe draped over the EC 1836-1 to increase a volume.

In some embodiments, it is envisioned that the EC 1836-1 may be rigid orsemi-rigid. It is envisioned that one or more of the ECs 1836-x mayinclude at least a portion of a coupler 1879 for coupling to another ofthe ECs 1836-x such as the EC 1836-1. In some embodiments, the ECs1836-x may include only a single coupler (e.g., one of 1863 or 1861) ofa coupling pair.

It is further envisioned that the coupler 1879 may be configured tocouple the AE 1834 to a distributor 1818 via the EC 1836-1 as may bedesired. It is envisioned that the distributor 1879 may be configured toprovide for the rotation of the AE 1834 about one or more axes as may bedesired.

Methods of performing an apparel measurement process, such as anautomated digiforming operation, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention will now be discussed with reference to at least FIGS.20A, 20B, 21, and 24 , wherein FIG. 20A is flowchart 2000 which shows aportion of an apparel measurement process to generate DSCI performed bya vendor in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; FIG.20B is flowchart 2030 which shows a portion of an apparel measurementprocess to generate DSCI in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention; FIG. 21 is flowchart 2100 which shows a portion of an apparelfitting process performed by the system for shoppers operating inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention; and FIG. 24 isflowchart 2400 which shows a portion of an apparel fitting processperformed by the system in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. Processes 2000, 2030, 2100, and 2400 may be performed usingone or more logic devices (e.g., controllers, processors,microprocessors, shift registers, gates, circuits, etc.) communicatingover any suitable medium (e.g., a network as the network 22 of FIG. 1 )to obtain information from, and/or store information to, one or morememories which may be local and/or remote from each other. It is furtherenvisioned that each process may be controlled by a controller of thesystem, such as the controller 2, and may be operative to communicatewith one or more actuators, motors, networks, memories, and/or sensorsof the system. For example, each process may control one or moreportions of the system such as actuators, motors, solenoids, pumps,sensors, robotic manipulators, etc. to perform desired actions tocomplete steps or acts (hereinafter both of which may be referred to asstep(s) for the sake of clarity) of the process and/or to perform adigiforming operation in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. It is envisioned that each process may further receivefeedback information from the one or more sensors of the system, such asthe sensors 20, or other sensors, and act in accordance with the sensorinformation and/or other information to perform steps in accordance withthe process. It is envisioned that each process may control one or morerobotic manipulation portions to perform acts of the process and/or mayreceive sensor information from the one or more robotic manipulationportions which may be used to determine positions of the roboticmanipulation portions. Thus, each process may interact with, and maycontrol, one or more actuators of the robotic manipulation portions. Itis envisioned that each process may include one or more of the stepsdiscussed below and may differ from the order in which they aredescribed as may be desired with appropriate discretion. One or more ofthe following steps may be combined, separated into one or moresub-steps as may be desired, and/or may be skipped depending upon systemand/or user settings. During the processes 2000, 2030, 2100, and/or2400, information generated and/or obtained by the corresponding processmay be encrypted and/or stored for a desired duration (e.g., for adesired period of time) or longer as may be desired in a memory of thesystem.

With reference to the process 2000 of FIG. 20A, the process 2000 maystart during step 2001 and then proceed to step 2003.

During step 2003, the process may load VEI for the current vendor from amemory of the system. Accordingly, the system may obtain anidentification of the vendor (vendor ID) (or an account registered tothe vendor) and may obtain corresponding VEI (and/or accountinformation, account profile, vendor profile, etc.) which may includeDSCIs from a memory of the system. It is envisioned that the process maygenerate and render a GUI with which the vendor may interact to enterits Vendor ID such that the vendor's VEI may be obtained from a memoryof the system. In yet other embodiments, however, the vendor ID may beobtained from system settings, etc. which may set forth, for example, adefault vendor ID (e.g., Macys™, The Gap™, etc.). In some embodiments,VEI may be loaded for a plurality of vendors as may be desired. Forexample, a retail store may carry AOCs from a plurality of manufactureseach of which may have their own VEI. Accordingly, the system may obtainVEI for each of these manufactures and may combine this VEI into VEI forthe current vendor. After completing step 2003, the process may continueto step 2005.

During step 2005, the process may determine whether there is any need todigiform an AOC using sensors or any digiform stored previously can beused/adopted based on certain matching criteria. (e.g., the vendor doesnot have to digiform each and every AOC in the inventory). Rather, thevendor may digiform one or two for each style and size or AOCs and thenreusing DigiSizes may be sufficiently accurate. Accordingly, if isdetermined to digiform an AOC using sensors, the process may continue tostep 2013. If it is not determined, however, to digiform an AOC usingsensors but reused/adapt existing DigiSize, the process may continue tostep 2009. The process may determine whether to digiform an AOC inaccordance with a selection of the vendor. Accordingly, the process maygenerate and/or render a GUI with which the vendor may interact toselect an AOC to digiform (e.g., scan an AOC to generate DSI for theapparel in accordance with embodiments of the present system). Forexample, the GUI may include selections items which the vendor mayselect to perform one or more tasks in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention such as to select to digiform and/or Templatizeone or more AOCs. The process may act in accordance with the selectionof the vendor. In yet other embodiments, the process may proceed inaccordance with system settings as may be set by the system and/orvendor. In some embodiments, and dependent upon system settings as maybe set by the vendor and/or system, the process may determine todigiform automatically when, for example, it is determined that there isno DSI for a corresponding AOC. Accordingly, the process may identify anAOC and may then search DSCI to determine whether DSI for the AOC existsin a memory of the system and/or a third-party.

During step 2009, the process may templatize the selected at least oneAOC. After completing step 2009, the process may continue to step 2011.(Note that 2009 is optional, Templatized digiform is parameterizeddigiform. It is only used to generate desired fitting by the shopperthat can be searched matched easily with user inventory, explained laterin this document. Once the user fills in values for parameterizeddigiform, it becomes a regular fully specified digiform. Each AOC invendor inventory, however, is associated with one digiform that is nottemplatized.

During step 2011, the process may update the VEI in accordance withinformation generated, changed, and/or updated by the process. Thisinformation may include any new or updated DSI, MI, and/or correspondingDSCI and may be stored in the VEI for the vendor. After completing step2011, the process may continue to step 2019 where it may end.

During step 2013, the process may perform a digiforming operation on atleast one selected AOC in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. Accordingly, the process may identify the selected AOC andperform a digiforming operation to scan this AOC to generatecorresponding DSI for this AOC. In some embodiments, the process maygenerate an ID tag (e.g., including an identification) of the AOC as maybe requested by the vendor and/or system. Independently, part or all ofthe vendors apparel inventory may be digiformed to generate DSI whichmay be combined with MI to form DSCI for each digiformed AOC. Aftercompleting step 2013, the process may continue to step 2015.

During step 2015, the process may update the VEI for the vendor inaccordance with changes and/or updates to the DSCI during step 2013above. The process may repeat acts 2013 through 2015 for each selectedAOC of its apparel inventory, if desired, in accordance system and/orvendor settings. After completing step 2015, the process may repeat step2007.

Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a vendormay digiform all or part (e.g., selected AOC only) of its apparelinventory and form corresponding DSCI which may be stored VEI of thevendor. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, avendor may obtain DSCI for one or more AOCs from other vendors, such asmanufactures, retailers, third-parties, etc., from VEI which may bestored in, for example, a server of the system and may be available tomore than one vendor subject to access rights. It is also envisioned,however, that a vendor may digiform their own apparel inventory, orportions thereof, and generate corresponding DSCI (for correspondingAOCs) which may be stored in the VEI of the vendor. Access rights forvendors may be stored in association with the VEI for the vendor. Forexample, the MI included in the VEI of the vendor may include accessrights which may set forth which vendors may have access to the VEI.

Thus, a vendor may independently digiform AOCs to obtain DSCI for one ormore AOCs and/or may rely upon other vendors to provide DSCI for one ormore AOCs thus obviating the need to digiform AOCs when DSCI for the oneor more AOCs is/are available through the VEI of another vendor. Thismay save time and cost. In some embodiments, if information isunavailable such as certain information for MI and/or DSI, the systemmay interpolate and/or insert blank field(s) or other suitableinformation as may be set by system and/or user settings.

It is envisioned that to reduce time and/or cost of digiforming apparel(such as large inventories of apparel and the like), embodiments of thepresent invention may employ one or more methods to reduce time and/orcost of digiforming apparel. For example, it is envisioned that insteadof digiforming each AOC individually, a vendor may sample selected AOCfrom the same size, style, and/or brand and form corresponding DSCI.This may reduce the number of samples required to cover the vendor'sinventory. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may providefor a vendor to select a subgroup of apparel for digiforming from agroup or subgroup of apparel of the vendor. The system may thenassociate DSCs for the group of apparel from the subgroup and update theVEI accordingly. It is also envisioned that the system may includeinformation indicative of whether the DSCI of an AOC was obtained fromthe DSCI of another AOC and may render this information for theconvenience of the vendor. This information may be stored in the MI.Accordingly, a vendor may digiform select AOC from a group of apparel asmay be desired.

It is further envisioned that embodiments of the present invention mayprovide for the adjustment of sensitivity and/or resolution so that avendor may obtain coarse DSI in less time and/or cost as compared to amore detailed DSI with elasticity and/or fine-grained measurements.Accordingly, the system and/or vendor may select information to includein the DSCI of an AOC. For example, a vendor, such as a manufacturer,may provide a vendor specification such as a single digit DSI (singlesize) (e.g., 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . 9) which may be considered as a verycoarse, low-resolution, and low-cost DSCI. Accordingly, it is envisionedthat embodiments of the present invention may provide an interface suchas a GUI with which a user such as a vendor and/or shopper may act toadjust one or more cost variables such as coarseness, sensitivity,resolution, time (e.g., scan time, etc.), actual cost (e.g., in centsper apparel for digiforming), etc. When any of these values is adjusted,the system may employ a cost algorithm to calculate changes to the otherof these values and adjust them accordingly. Thereafter, the system mayrender the generated cost information on the GUI for the convenience ofthe vendor and store such information for later use (e.g., such as forcost analysis, etc.) in a memory of the system for later use.Accordingly, a user (e.g., vendor or shopper) may determine one or moresettings for sensitivity, resolution, and/or cost for digiforming one ormore AOCs, and store these settings in a memory of the system for lateruse such as in association with VEI for the vendor or SSI for theshopper. With regard to one or more of the cost values such ascoarseness, when coarse DSCI is used to define a 3D model, the systemmay employ interpolation algorithms on the DSCI to, for example,construct a more detailed 3D model. For example, a coarse 3D model mayhave fewer vertices and lines than a fine 3D model. Elasticityinformation may be associated with one or more of the lines and may berendered using any suitable method such as colors (e.g., linearly ordiscretely). The 3D models may be represented as a mesh or as a solidsurface or the like. In some embodiments, the system may form and mayrender the 3D model as an actual apparel (e.g., an AOC such as a shirthaving collars, etc.) in accordance with a type of apparel.

In some embodiments, it is envisioned that the system may provide anoption for manual and/or automatic selection of apparel to digiform froma group or subgroup of apparel of a vendor such as a retailer. Forexample, when a shopper (e.g., in physical store or online) is detectedto show interest in a select AOC from this group of apparel (as may bedetected using any suitable method or methods) such as by trying on theselect AOC or viewing the AOC online, scanning an ID tag of the AOC,etc., the system may detect this and generate a digiforming request todigiform this AOC (or a like AOC that may be expected to have the sameor substantially similar DSI) that the shopper is viewing. Thisdigiforming request may be processed by the system and a correspondingAOC (or a substantially similar AOC such as an AOC of with the same orsimilar ID or DSI) may be automatically digiformed by the system togenerate or update DSCI for this AOC. In some embodiments, it isenvisioned that the system may generate a message indicating that an AOCthat the shopper has tried on or has shown interest in has beendigiformed and that this digiform information is available for theshopper for viewing and/or virtual fitting and/or alteration, as may bedesired. This message may be forwarded to a registered contact addressof the shopper such as an APP of the shopper, a social networkingaccount or address of the shopper, an email of the shopper, etc. as mayset by the shopper and may be stored in a memory of the system inassociation with the SSI of the shopper.

Accordingly, a vendor may defer performing digiforming operations or mayperform low-cost DSI (e.g., very coarse DSI) for an AOC which maycontrol cost. Then, in response to detected actions of a shopper, suchas viewing or showing interest in an AOC, the system may generate arequest for digiforming the AOC and/or may digiform the AOC to obtain ahigher-cost DSI. For example, an online vendor such as an onlineretailer may, when a shopper initially views an AOC, only have low-costDSI available for this AOC which DSI may include, for example, singledigit size information (e.g., 0, 1, 2, . . . as discussed above). Inresponse to detecting the shopper's interest in the AOC, the system maygenerate higher-cost and more detailed DSI for the AOC and may providean option for the shopper to view this information and perform a virtualfitting and/or comparison with one or more other AOC based upon acomparison of DSCI for the corresponding AOC.

Once the digiform information, such as DSCI, is available for an AOC, avendor and/or the system may, in response, templatize this DSCI asdesired to form templatized DSCI (DSCI-T) which may be stored by thesystem in the DSCI. For example, the system may generate and render auser interface with which the vendor may modify and/or create DSCI-T inwhich different DSCI-T may capture different styles of an AOC but notthe variation in dimensions. Such DSCI-T may be presented to the shopperwhere a shopper as may be discussed below. For example, A woman's topmay be parameterized by (i.e. templatized by) two key parameters:Shoulder length and bust. DSCI-T can adjust all other dimensions oncethese two parameters are included. Thus, DSCI-T allows vendor to scalethe whole digiform 3D model for a desired key measurement from the user,instead of keeping separate DSCI for all possible combination of thoseparameters.

It is further envisioned that the system may associate information witha vendor-issued ID tag which may be unique to an AOC and other AOC withthe same or substantially similar DSCI and store this information in amemory of the system such as in a database of the system (e.g., avendor's database) in any suitable format such as in the VEI of thevendor. With regard to ID tags, any suitable ID tags, such as automaticindemnification and data capture (AIDC) compatible tags or the like maybe employed. For the sake of clarity, it will be assumed that the IDtags referred to herein are AIDC tags unless the context indicatesotherwise. In response to reading the ID tag, the system may update theDSCI and/or VEI in accordance with any changes to the DSI and/or MI ofthe AOC which is associated with the ID tag. The vendor's database maybe accessible to the vendor and/or may include a central databaseaccessible by a plurality of vendors and/or shoppers subject to accessrestrictions in accordance with system and/or vendor settings.

It is envisioned that information associated with the ID tag may bestored in a memory of the system such as in a local memory of the ID tagitself, and/or on a server of the system such as an Internet server forlater use by the vendor, other, vendors and/or shoppers depending uponsystem settings and/or access restrictions as may be set by the systemand/or vendor. Thus, it is envisioned that the ID tag may include amemory and may be queried by, for example, any suitable reading devicesuch as an interrogator or the like.

With reference to the process 2030 of FIG. 20B, the process 2030 maystart during step 2031 and then proceed to step 2033. With reference tothe process 2030 of FIG. 20B, the process 2030 may start during step2031 and then proceed to step 2033.

During step 2033, the process may optionally select an AE including oneor more ECs for inflating a current AOC. The process may select an AE ofthe same apparel type (e.g., shirt, slacks, etc.) as the current AOC.Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the present system, the processmay determine an apparel type of the AOC and thereafter, select an AE ofthe same type. After completing step 2033, the process may continue tostep 2035.

During step 2035, the process may position an APS including the currentAOC, which may be coupled thereto, in a desired position relative to theselected AE. Depending upon system configuration, the system may controlone or more actuators, motors, solenoids, robotic manipulators, and/orthe like, to position the selected AE in the desired position such as ina desired position that may be within a scanning chamber. In someembodiments, the process may control one or more actuators, roboticmanipulators, and/or the like to position or otherwise direct the APS,which may be coupled to the current AOC, to the selected AE. Forexample, the process may control one or more actuators, motors, roboticmanipulation portions, etc., to position the APS (which may be assumedto be on rails as illustrated in FIG. 3-5 ) relative to the AE forperforming a scan. In yet other embodiments, it is envisioned that theprocess may render a request to position the selected AE in a desiredlocation and await response from, for example, a user of the system.After completing step 2035, the process may continue to step 2037.

During step 2037, the process may couple the APS to the AE in positionfor performing a scan. For example, the process may control one or moreactuators, motors, solenoids, and/or electromagnetic couplers and/or thelike to couple the APS relative to the AE so as to reduce or entirelyprevent undesirable motion of during inflation of the AE during a scanwhen the AE may be inflated. After completing step 2037, the process maycontinue to step 2039.

During step 2039, the process may position one or more ECs of the AE ina desired position relative to the AOC for inflation. For example, insome embodiments the process may control one more actuators, motors,solenoids, robotic manipulators, and/or the like, to position one ormore portions of the EC to a desired position or positions relative tothe AOC. These desired positions may be stored in a memory of thesystem. For example, the process may control one or more actuators, suchas telescopic actuators, to telescopically move (as illustrated in FIG.16B) to position one or more portions of the AE such as one or more ECsof the AE in position relative to the AOC. After completing step 2039,the process may continue to step 2041.

During step 2041, the process may be operative to inflate the AE toexpand within at least one inner cavity of the AOC. Accordingly, theprocess may be operative to control one or more actuators, solenoids,pumps, valves, etc. to provide an OPF, such as air, to one or more ECsof the AE in accordance with system and/or user settings. For example,in some embodiments, the process may control a fluid distribution unitto inflate one or more ECs of the AE in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention. Accordingly, the process may be operative toinflate one or more ECs of the AE prior to others. In yet otherembodiments, this may occur passively or automatically. In accordancewith some embodiments, the inflation may occur at a desired flow orpressure rates over time. In some embodiments, the process may inflateand/or deflate one or more ECs repeatedly so as to seat the ECs withinthe at least one inner cavity of the AOC. After completing step 2041,the process may continue to step 2043.

During step 2043, the process may scan the AOC to obtain sensorinformation from one or more sensors of the system which may sensorinformation may include information related to at least outer shape,form, and/or contour of the AE as it is expanded within the AOC and mayobtain related tension information. Accordingly, the process may beoperative to control one or more sensors of the system to detectpressure within the AE and/or contours (e.g., outer and/or inner) of theAE when it is within the cavity of the at least one AOC and formcorresponding sensor information. The process may also be operative toobtain optical sensor information that may be used to visually detectcontours of the AOC and/or AE such as a grid of the AE. For example,during the scan one or more of the sensors may further capturemeasurements at various pressure levels (e.g., within the AE or portionsthereof) and inflation levels and capture elasticity information relatedto the AOC being scanned. After completing step 2043, the process maycontinue to step 2045.

During step 2045, the process may determine whether the scanning of step2043 is complete. Accordingly, when it is determined that scanning iscomplete, the process may continue to step 2047. If it is determined,however, that scanning of step is not complete, the process may repeatstep 2041. In accordance with some embodiments, the process maydetermine that scanning is complete when the pressure of the OPF reachesa threshold value (e.g., a pressure threshold value (PTV)). Accordingly,if it is determined that the pressure of the OPF is greater than, orequal to, this threshold value, the process may determine that scanningis complete. If it is determined that the pressure of the OPF is lessthan this threshold value, the process may determine that scanning isnot complete. The pressure of the OPF may be detected by one or moresensors of the system. In some embodiments, the PTV may be set inaccordance with an apparel type of the current AOC being scanned. Forexample, skirts may have a different PTV than pants, etc. The PTV may beset in accordance with system and/or user settings and may be stored ina memory of the system for later use.

In yet other embodiments, the process may determine that scanning iscomplete when sufficient sensor information is obtained to reconstruct a3D image of the scanned apparel as may be determined by the systemand/or user (e.g., in accordance with cost settings, etc.). In yet otherembodiments, the scan may be performed within a certain range ofpressures within the AE (e.g., 5-7 psi, etc.). These settings may be setby the system and/or user and may be stored in a memory of the systemfor later use. In some embodiments, a learning engine (e.g., usingartificial intelligence, machine learning, etc.) may be employed todetermine a desired pressure range of the OPF for scanning each type ofapparel and/or materials (e.g., elasticity) based upon past scans ofAOCs of the same or similar type. In some embodiments, the scan may beperformed when a pressure of the OPF is determined to be above a firstthreshold value and/or below a second threshold value for the currentAOC as may be determined by the system.

During step 2047, the process may be operative to depressurize the AE.Accordingly, the process may be operative to control one or moreactuators, solenoids, pumps, valves, etc. to release the OPF within theAE to atmosphere and/or may vacuum the AE so as to fold and/or reducethe size of the AE in accordance with system and/or user settings. Insome embodiments, the process may be operative to position one or moreECs of the AE in a desired position relative to the AOC for withdrawalof the AE from the AOC. For example, in some embodiments the process maycontrol one more actuators, motors, solenoids, robotic manipulators,and/or the like to position one or more portions of the EC to a desiredposition or positions relative to other portions of the system such asthe distributor, etc., such that the AOC may be separated therefrom.After completing step 2047, the system may continue to step 2049.

During step 2049, the process may decouple the APS from the AE such thatthe APS may be free to be moved relative to the AE and/or the scanningchamber. Actions performed during this step may be opposite of step 2037and, for example, the process may be operative to control one or moreactuators, motors, solenoids, and/or electromagnetic couplers, and/orthe like, to decouple the APS from the AE so as to provide for the forthe removal of the APS from the AE and/or scanning chamber. Aftercompleting step 2049, the process may continue to step 2051.

During step 2051, the process may be operative to position the APSincluding the current AOC which may be coupled thereto, in an after-scanarea (e.g., area III) for release of the AOC from the APS. Dependingupon system configuration, the process may control one or moreactuators, robotic manipulators, and/or the like to guide the APS fromthe scanning chamber and/or to position or otherwise direct the APS,which may be coupled to the current AOC, to the after-scan area (e.g.,area III). Release of the AOC from the APS may be performedautomatically or manually by a user. After completing step 2051, theprocess may continue to step 2053.

During act 2053, the process may generate DSCI for the AOC and/or storethe generated DSCI in a memory of the system for later use. The processmay further update any history information and store this information ina memory of the system for later use and/or may render information on arendering device of the system indicative of a current status (e.g.,scan complete, etc.) for the convenience of a current user such as avendor or a shopper. The process may further update VEI and/or SSI(depending upon a current user) in accordance with the updated DSCI forthe current apparel(s). After completing act 2053, the process maycontinue to act 2055 where it may end.

With reference to the process 2100 of FIG. 21 , this process may startduring step 2101 and then proceed to step 2103. This process may beperformed when a shopper selects an AOC to digiform as may occur in, forexample, a retail store or the like.

During step 2103, the process may perform an initialization for thecurrent shopper (e.g., the current user). For example, the process mayload SSI of the shopper if available. The SSI may include informationrelated to the shopper such as profile information. The process may alsogenerate and/or render instructions on use of the process for theconvenience of the shopper. In some embodiments, a defaultinitialization may be performed using a default account depending uponsystem and/or shopper settings.

Accordingly, the process may obtain an identification (ID) of theshopper (or an account or other recognizable feature of account of theshopper such as contact information, etc.) and may obtain correspondingSSI which may include DSCI and profile information for the shopper froma memory of the system. It is envisioned that the process may generateand render a GUI with which the shopper may interact to enter anidentification of the shopper. The GUI may be generated by an APPrunning on a US of the shopper and which may be rendered on atouchscreen of the US. For the sake of clarity, it should be understoodthat an ID of the shopper may refer to any suitable form of ID of theshopper such as a mobile ID, an account name or number, email address,telephone number, etc.

In yet other embodiments, however, the ID of the shopper may be obtainedfrom system settings, etc. which may set forth, for example, a defaultshopper. After completing step 2103, the process may continue to step2105.

During step 2105, at least one AOC may be selected by the shopper.Accordingly, the process may generate and render an interface with whichthe shopper may interact to select the at least one AOC to be digiformedby the system. For example, the process may obtain a list registeredapparel (LRA) that may include one or more AOCs that are associated withthe shopper and stored in the SSI of the shopper. Each AOC on this listof AOCs may have a corresponding a shopper-provided unique identifier(SUID) assigned thereto. For example, FIG. 22 shows a screenshot of aportion of a selection screen 2200 generated and rendered by the process(e.g., such as may be run by an APP operating in accordance withembodiments of the present invention) configured to select an AOC to bedigiformed in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Theprocess may render information in the selection screen 2200 (e.g., asmay be rendered on a display of a US of the shopper) such as an accountinformation area 2217 which may include a user account selection item2206 and an account identifier 2207. The user account selection item2206 may render an image associated with a logged-in user (e.g., thelogged-in shopper) such as “Samantha,” that is logged in to the user'saccount and whose login name may be displayed as shown by the accountidentifier selection item 2207. In response to selection of the useraccount selection item 2206, the system may render informationassociated with the account and/or may provide a selection item to logoff and/or change and/or add accounts. For the sake of clarity, it willbe assumed that all accounts may be considered registered accounts.

Instructions to select an AOC to be scanned (e.g., digiformed) inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention may be renderedaudibly or graphically such as illustrated by instructions 2221. An LRA2223 may include a list of clothing (e.g., a list of AOC) eachrepresented by a corresponding selection item 2223-1 through 2223-4(generally 2223-x) each of which may have a corresponding SUID such as“My Blue Dress;” “Black Levis Jeans;” a photo of the AOClabel/description of the AOC; and a photo of the user wearing the AOC,respectively, and desired AOC 2224 which may include correspondingselection items 2223-5 through 2223-6 each of which may have acorresponding SUID and may be considered to be a virtually-alteredapparel (VAAs) that the shopper desires.

A selection item 2225 (e.g., plus sign) may be selected to add anotherAOC and a corresponding SUID. The LRA 2223 may be populated by theshopper automatically (e.g., when scanning an ID tag of an apparel,etc.) or manually. For example, a shopper may record a video of, forexample, the shopper wearing an AOC. This AOC may then be added to theLRA and this video including audio may be associated with the AOC. Then,in response to selection of a selection item (e.g., 2223-x) associatedwith the AOC, the video may be played. The shopper may then recordinformation that may remind the shopper of the AOC. The system mayprovide for scrolling of the LRA. Further, system may list clothing onthe LRA in accordance with type of apparel (pants, shorts, shirt, etc.)on the LRA. Moreover, two or more AOC of different apparel type may belinked such as a pair of slacks which may have a corresponding jacketand may form a combination or pair (e.g., a paired type). In someembodiments, AOC may be listed by type (e.g., pants, sweaters, jackets,shirts, etc.).

In response to selection of any of the selection items 2223-xcorresponding to the SUIDs, the process may obtain, and/or renderfurther information related to the corresponding SUID. For example, inresponse to selection (by the user) of the selection item 2223-1, theprocess may render further information related to My Blue Dress such asmanufacture, stock number, ID tag identification no. (for a shopper toidentify), DSI as a 3D image, etc. The shopper may select an AOC fromtheir existing clothing list (e.g., clothing which the shopper owns oris in possession of). The SUID may include any information that may behelpful for a shopper to identify different clothing on the LRA andwhich may be submitted for digiforming and/or for virtual alterations inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention. For example, theSUID may include text, graphics, content (e.g., audio, video, stillimages, etc.), and/or other information that the shopper may use toidentify an AOC of one or more AOCs which may be associated with theprofile of the shopper and may be stored in the SSI of the shopper suchas such as: (a) a shopper provided label (e.g., “My Blue Dress”); (b) adescription of the apparel (e.g., “Black Levis Jeans”); (3) a photo ofthe apparel; (4) a photo of user label/description of the AOC, as may bediscussed above.

The SUID may be associated with the MI and corresponding DSCI which maybe stored in the SSI in a memory of the system for later use. SUIDs maybe rendered for LRA of the shopper or portions thereof. For example,SUIDs may be rendered by date (e.g., fall 2050 styles, todays apparel,etc.), apparel type (e.g., shirts, pants, etc.). When an AOC isselected, the process may determine whether DSI for an AOC is available.If DSI for an AOC is not available (e.g., indicative of the AOC notbeing digiformed), the process may inform the shopper of such and rendera selection item for the shopper to select to digiform the correspondingAOC. If, however, DSI is available for the corresponding AOC (e.g.,which is indicative of the apparel being digiformed), the process mayrender a 3D model of the AOC in accordance with at least the DSI for theconvenience of the shopper. This 3D model may be reconstructed from theDSCI and may include a desired format such as mesh (e.g., includingvertices coupled by links) or a solid surface model where voxels mayinclude a color and an opacity as may be defined by system and/or usersettings.

It is also envisioned that the process may generate, provide, and/orassociate an ID tag which may include a unique identifier to identify aselected AOC at a later time. The ID tag may be coupled to the selectedAOC and/or to a hanger which may be employed during a digiformingoperation performed in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. In some embodiments, the shopper may print out the ID tag. Inyet other embodiments, the ID tag may be provided to the shopper. In yetother embodiments, the ID tag may be a virtual tag, this may be usedwhen, for example, the shopper may perform a digiforming operation onthe selected AOC as opposed to a digiforming center performing thedigiforming operation. It is further envisioned that the ID tag mayinclude visual reference to the SUID such that the shopper may easilyidentify the ID tag and corresponding AOC, if desired. For example, insome embodiments, an ID tag may be scanned and thereafter placed on aselected AOC for digiforming. In yet other embodiments, an ID tag may bepre-associated with an AOC for digiforming before it may be shipped tothe shopper. Accordingly, the shopper may need to identify an AOC thatthe ID tag is to be associated with. In this regard, the ID tag may bescanned by the shopper (e.g., using a US of the shopper) to read theassociated SUID such that the shopper may attach the ID tag to thecorresponding AOC. In yet other embodiments, the SUID may be physicallyprinted on the ID tag such that the shopper may readily identify thecorresponding AOC.

The selection screen 2200 may further include one or more selectionitems which may be selected by the shopper to select various actionssuch as a plurality of software tools 2239 in a tools menu 2241 as maybe discussed elsewhere in this application such as with reference toFIG. 26 as will be discussed below.

It is envisioned that selected (apparel) clothing such as a shopper'sexisting clothing, may be digiformed by the shopper using a digiformscanner (e.g., as may be available at a vendor's shop, etc.) or providedto a digiforming center(s) to be digiformed. It is envisioned that thedigiforming center may, for example, be operated by a retailer or anindependent vendor. Shoppers may send AOCs selected from the shopper'scurrent collection via any suitable shipper to a digiforming center. Forthe sake of clarity, it will be assumed that the shopper considers theseAOCs to be a good fit and would, therefore, like to find other clothingwith a similar fit. In some embodiments, the process may send orotherwise provide shoppers with a prepaid postal package which mayinclude separate plastic bags for each AOC and corresponding ID tags. Itis envisioned that each bag may include a space for a label/descriptionand the ID tag associated with the AOC. Referring back to the flowchart2100, after completing step 2105, the process may continue to step 2107.

During step 2107, the process may perform a digiforming operation on theselected AOC in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

With regard to identifying the AOC being scanned for DSI, the processmay obtain an ID of the AOC using any suitable method such as from itsID tag in accordance with embodiments of the present system. Forexample, the process may scan the ID tag of AOC which it received toobtain further information about an associated AOC such as type ofapparel, shopper profile information (e.g., obtained from SSIcorresponding to the ID tag of the AOC), etc. In accordance with someembodiments, the process may select an AE in accordance with informationfrom the ID tag. For example, if the ID tag identifies the AOC as a pairof pants, the process may select an AE for pants.

It is envisioned that the process may obtain the AOC for the digiformingoperation using any suitable method in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention. After completing step 2107, the process maycontinue to step 2109.

During step 2109, the process may generate DSCs and corresponding DSCIfor the AOC that was scanned during the digiforming operation of step2107. The process may repeat acts 2103 through 2109 for each AOC of aplurality of selected AOCs, if desired, in accordance system and/orshopper settings. After completing step 2109, the process may continueto step 2111.

During step 2111, the process may update the SSI in accordance withinformation generated, changed, and/or updated by the process. Thisinformation may include any new DSI, MI, and/or corresponding DSCI andmay be stored in the SSI for the corresponding shopper.

After completing step 2111, the process may continue to step 2113 whereit may notify the shopper of the availability of the new digiforminformation (e.g., DSCIs, etc.). For example, the system may render anew selection item (e.g., see 2229 in FIG. 22 ) to indicate that newdigiform information (e.g., DSCIs) are available. In response toselection of the NEW selection item 2229, the system may render avisualization screen for viewing information related to thecorresponding AOC such as a 3D model as may be discussed elsewhere inthis application. In some embodiments, this notification may betransmitted to one or more selected contact addresses (e.g., email, SMS,social network accounts, etc.) that may be associated with the shopper'sprofile as may be stored in the SSI in a memory of the system such as adatabase of the system for later use. Thus, after digiforming theselected AOC, the shopper may be notified of this new information inaccordance with system and/or user settings. Then, the shopper can login to his/her profile on the mobile APP where digiforms of AOCsregistered to the shopper (as listed in the LRA of the shopper) may beavailable for selection and viewing. A digiform for an AOC may bepresented on the APP in a graphical easy-to-understand format such as ina 3D model. After completing step 2113, the process may continue to step2115 where it may end.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, it should beappreciated that shoppers may access information about their account orprofile over any suitable network such as the Internet either using awebsite and a specialized application for the computing platform (a.k.a.an APP) operating in accordance with embodiments of the present system.The information may be accessed on a device with a mouse and screeninterface or a touchscreen interface (e.g., a personal computer, atablet, a smart phone, etc.). For brevity and without loss ofgenerality, the term APP may be used herein to reference a genericmethod of shopper access and shopper interaction (e.g., customer-accessand customer interaction) unless the context indicates otherwise.Similarly, to avoid repetition, figures and description may be renderedby an APP on a touchscreen device as a means to access and interact withthe shopper. Those capabilities, however, may be easily extended toother types of devices and interfaces (e.g. a personal computer with amouse, an augmented-reality (AR) system, etc.) and should in no waylimit the applicability of the presented technique to touchscreen APPs.Similarly, descriptions herein may assume that digiforming operationsare performed by the vendors such as retailers. It should beappreciated, however, that techniques described herein may be equallyapplicable if digiforming operations are performed by vendors such asmanufacturers or a third-party services specialized in digiformingoperations. In such case, once the DSCI (or portions thereof such asDSI, MI, etc.) of one or more AOCs is available, it may be provided toother vendors such as retailers, etc. subject to access rights as may bedefined by the system, vendor, and/or shopper.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, it isenvisioned that upon receiving selected AOCs from a shopper, adigiforming center may scan these AOCs to determine DSI for thecorresponding AOCs, associate the DSI and the MI to form DSCI for eachcorresponding AOC and associate the DSCI with information related to theprofile of the corresponding shopper that sent them and may store thisinformation as SSI of the shopper in a memory of the system such as adatabase memory for later use. It is also envisioned that the DSCI mayinclude a unique identifier such as an SUID may be associated with eachcorresponding AOC. If performed by a digiforming center, the AOCs may bereturned to the customer via any suitable method such as shipping,pickup, etc., after they are digiformed.

A detailed perspective view of a fitting room system 2300 operating inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 23. The system 2300 may include one or more of a controller which may beconfigured to control a sensor suite 2320 including a scanner such as anAIDC scanner, a display screen 2306D, a US 2324, a tag which is uniqueto an AOC 2351, and a memory. The system 2300 may include, or beinteractive with, the US 2324 of a shopper 2301. For the sake ofclarity, it may be assumed that renderings may be extended or duplicatedon the displays 2306D and on a display of the US 2324 each of which maybe a touchscreen display.

In use, the shopper 2301 may try on the AOC 2351 in any suitablelocation such as in a fitting room of the vendor (as shown), at home,etc. For the sake of clarity, it will be assumed that the AOC 2351 wastried on by the shopper 2301 and may be referred to as a tried AOC (TA)2351. It will also be assumed that the system has identified the shopper2301 and may access the SSI of the shopper to read, form, and/or modifyan LRA of the shopper 2301. It may also be assumed that the process hasaccessed VEI for the corresponding vendor or vendors, as may be selectedby the shopper (e.g., I would like to view clothing a Bloomingdales™),the vendor, and/or the system. For example, when shopping in X-Brandstores, then the system may select VEI for X-Brand stores. Similarly,when shopping in Y-Brand stores, then the system may select VEI forY-Brand stores. When shopping from a home of the shopper, the system mayselect stores selected by the system and/or shopper (e.g., X-Brand andY-Brand stores, Bloomingdales™, etc.) and obtain corresponding VEI forthese stores.

It is envisioned that the AOC 2351 may include an ID tag (e.g., which isunique to the apparel as discussed elsewhere). The shopper 2301 mayinteract with the system 2300 to scan the ID tag using any suitablescanner of the system, such as a scanner in the sensor suite 2320 suchas the AIDC scanner, which may interrogate or otherwise query the ID tagto obtain DSCI associated with the tag, and, thus, the AOC 2351 from amemory of the system. Once the DSCI is obtained, the process may obtainMI of the AOC 2351 and may render an option to add this AOC to the LRAof the shopper 2301. In response to the shopper 2301 selecting to addthe AOC 2351 to the LRA, the system may add information related to theAOC 2351 such as the DSCI (in whole or part such as the MI dependingupon system and/or user settings) to the LRA of the shopper and updatethe LRA of the shopper 2301 accordingly and store the LRA in a memory ofthe system.

It is further envisioned that the process may further prompt the shopper2301 to enter a corresponding SUID (e.g., by taking a picture of theAOC, entering a description of the AOC, etc.), and/or the process mayprovide a default SUID (as may be determined by system settings and mayinclude, for example, a time stamp corresponding to the scan time,information obtained from the MI, content, context information (CI),etc.). In yet other embodiments, the process may obtain a description ofthe AOC (e.g., Levis 505, blue jeans, . . . etc.) from DSCI of the AOCand set the SUID in accordance with this description. The SUID mayinclude information as may be entered by the vendor and/or shopper. Forexample, the SUID may include other information that a user may wish toassociate with the AOC such as fit, type of apparel, desired use (e.g.,my desired sun dress, etc.), etc. For example, the SUID may includecontent and/or shopper instructions such as audio video content that maybe recorded by the shopper such as “This pair of pants is tight aroundmy thighs,” “legs are too long,” “my favorite fit,” etc. In response tothe recognizing that the shopper provided (e.g., entered using anysuitable input device of the system such as an optical input, akeyboard, a gesture input, etc.) the system may associate thisinformation (e.g., content information such as audio and/or videoinformation) with the SUID and may store it in a memory of the systemsuch as in the SSI in for later use. For example, the system may storethe SUID in association with the DSCI for the AOC in the SSI of theshopper for later use such as for fitting an AOC for the shopper, vendorfeedback, etc. The system may further update the VEI with someinformation such as the SUID in association with the DSCI for the AOCfor the convenience of the vendor. Accordingly, a vendor may receivefeedback from a shopper in real-time or substantially real time.

With regard to the plurality of software tools 2239, these tools may beselected by the shopper anytime to enter into one or more correspondingmodes as may be discussed elsewhere in this application. For example, inresponse to selection of a digiform visualization tool selection item2239-7 of the software tools 2239, the system may enter a digiformvisualization mode (DVM) as may be discussed with reference to FIG. 26below with the current TA 2351 as a selected AOC for viewing (SAV) asmay be discussed elsewhere in this application. In some embodiments, oneor more of the selection items in the software tools may bede-highlighted and inoperative when desired such as when DSI isinsufficient, unavailable, etc. For example, when DSCI for any AOC isdetermined to be unavailable, the system may render the DVM modeinoperative and may de-highlight (e.g., grey out) a correspondingselection item until DSCI is available.

It is also envisioned that the process may perform VTT processing and/orother processing (determination of gestures, etc.) to determine acontext of the shopper's interaction with the system and may interact inaccordance with the determined context. For example, it is envisionedthat the system may be configured to recognize motions of the shopperwhile trying on an AOC (or during a virtual fit) as gestures and mayrespond to these gestures accordingly. In this regard, and in accordancewith system and/or user settings to assure privacy of the shopper, thesystem may monitor one or more sensors of the system such as cameras ofthe system to observe the shoppers interaction with the AOC (e.g., theTA) such as gestures made in association with the AOC as the shopperwears it. These gestures may be mapped by the system and/or user (e.g.,vendor and/or shopper) may, for example, include, for example, a gesturesuch as the shopper rubbing a portion of the AOC back-and-forth in aselected location which may be recognized as a tightness. For example,if the shopper rubs the thighs of the AOC 2351 back and forth, thesystem may determine that the AOC 2351 is too tight at the determinedlocation (e.g., the thighs). Thus, the system may be operative (e.g.,using image and/or audio analysis methods) to analyze shopper actions(e.g., relative to the AOC) and determine a fit relative to thatdetermined location. For example, a user may say the “thighs are tootight” and the system may analyze an audio input of a microphone sensorof the system to determine a location and an associated fit such thethighs and too tight, respectively, and update the SUID accordingly. Thesystem may then be operative to store DSCI for the corresponding AOCwith this updated SUID in the SSI of the shopper.

The flowchart of FIG. 24 will now be described with reference to FIGS.25 through 31 each of which may be described in further detail below. Ascreenshot of a portion of a selection screen 2500 generated andrendered by the process to select an apparel for a digiform fitting inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 25.

With reference to the process 2400 of FIG. 24 , this process may startduring step 2401 and then proceed to step 2403. During step 2403, theprocess may load the SSI for a shopper (e.g., a current shopper or aselected shopper) and VEI for one or more vendors (as may be selected bythe shopper and/or system for example, the shopper may select to loadVEI for a selected vendor such as MCMCM, MNIKE, 123ABC, etc., while avendor at whose store the shopper is shopping may select itself as aselected vendor). In some embodiments, the system may obtain locationinformation and select a vendor automatically in accordance with thelocation (e.g., if the shopper is at a retailer store XYZ stores, thesystem may obtain VEI for this vendor) depending upon system settings asmay be set by system, vendor, and/or shopper. The process may thenobtain DSCI (if the process has not already done so) from each of theSSI and the VEI accordingly. For the sake of clarity, and to avoidconfusion, the DSCI from the SSI may be referred to as DSCI-S (unlessthe context indicates otherwise) and the DSCI from the VEI may bereferred to as DSCI-V (unless the context indicates otherwise) duringthe present embodiments. Similarly, the DSI of the shopper may bereferred to as DSI-S and DSI from the vendor may be referred to as DSI-V(unless the context indicates otherwise). The process may render a listof LRAs including corresponding selection items for selection by theshopper and may await selection of an AOC in the LRA by the shopper.This may be illustrated with reference to FIG. 25 which shows ascreenshot of a portion of a selection screen 2500 generated andrendered by the process to select an AOC for a digiform fitting inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 25 , anLRA 2523 (which may be similar to the LRA 2223 as shown in FIG. 22 ) mayinclude clothing (e.g., a plurality of AOCs) each registered to theshopper and represented by a corresponding SUID as represented byselection items 2523-1 through 2523-7 (generally 2223-x) for selectionby the shopper (e.g., Samantha in the present embodiments). A source(e.g., user-owned, retailer-owned (e.g., Macys™, etc.),manufacturer-owned, desired, etc.) may also be associated with each ofthe AOCs in the LRA as illustrated by sources 2501-1 representinguser-owned (e.g., shopper-owned such as Samantha's), 2501-2 representingdesired (e.g., the shopper's desired fitting), 2501-3 representingretailer-owned (e.g., vendor-owned), and 2501-4 representingrental-owned (e.g., vendor-owned rental). Similarly, an apparel type ofeach of AOC (e.g., shirt, pants, jacket, tuxedo, etc.) may also beassociated with each of the AOCs in the LRA and may be indexed orotherwise displayed accordingly. The AOCs may also include a style(e.g., dresses, jeans, formal wear, Tuxedos, etc.) associated therewithas may be shown by arrows 2527-1 through 2527-4. A tools menu 2541 mayinclude a plurality of software tools 2239 which for the sake of claritymay be similar to those shown in FIG. 22 .

Instructions to select an AOC for viewing in a digiform visualizationmode (DVM) screen in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention may be generated and rendered audibly or graphically such asillustrated by instructions 2521.

Referring back to FIG. 24 , after completing step 2405, the process maycontinue to act 2407 where it may select an AOC for viewing which may bereferred to as a selected AOC for viewing (SAV) in the DVM using anysuitable method. For example, the process may, in response to theshopper's selection of an AOC from the LRA, set the corresponding AOC asthe SAV in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In someembodiments it is envisioned that the shopper may directly enter one ormore AOCs to be the SAV. In yet other embodiments any suitable methodfor selecting an SAV from the LRA may be employed including, forexample, selecting a default AOC from the LRA to be the SAV. In yetother embodiments, the process may select a most-recently digiformed AOC(e.g., an AOC that the shopper has just tried on in a fitting room of aretailer) depending upon system and/or shopper settings.

In some embodiments, the shopper may select a SAV as may be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 26 which shows a screenshot of a portion ofa digiform visualization mode (DVM) screen 2600 in a view-and-measuremode (VMM) generated and rendered by the process in accordance withembodiments of the present invention. In the DVM the VMM may beconsidered a default mode of the system when entering the DVM. The DVMscreen 2600 may be generated and rendered (e.g., on a US 2624 of theshopper using an APP) when the VMM is active and may include one or morea display area 2611, a tools menu 2641, an account information area2691, and an action toolbar 2604.

The account information area 2691 may include a user account selectionitem 2606 and an associated account identifier 2607. The user accountselection item 2606 may render an image associated with a logged-in user(e.g., the logged-in shopper) such as “Samantha,” that is logged in tothe user's account and whose login name may be displayed as shown by theaccount identifier 2607. In response to selection of the user accountselection item 2606, the system may render information associated withthe account and/or may provide a selection item to log off and/or changeand/or add accounts. For the sake of clarity, it will be assumed thatall accounts may be considered registered accounts. Thus, once theshopper is logged on to an account of the system such as an account ofthe shopper (as shown) or a default account, the process may display theusername (i.e., the shopper) logged on to the account such as “Samantha”in the present embodiments. Default accounts may be employed in, forexample, a fitting room area of a retailer where a shopper (e.g., acustomer of the retailer) may wish to try on an AOC and/or find asuitable AOC having a desired fit using embodiments of the presentsystem without logging into an account of the shopper.

Referring back to selecting AOC, the action toolbar may include a fileselection item 2605 which may be selected by the shopper to browseand/or select information related to the shopper's account such as anLRA of the shopper (e.g., DigSizes of the shopper). Accordingly, inresponse to selection of the file selection item 2605, the process myretrieve and render a listing including one more AOCs that areregistered to the shopper such as may be provided by the LRA of theshopper (e.g., LRA 2523, FIG. 25 ). This list may be rendered inaccordance with one or more templates that the vendor may have assignedto DSCI of the vendor. If user selects templatized DSCI-T, then 3D modelis clearly marked with graphical markers to show which measurements maybe changed by the user. If any of those are changed, all the dimensionsof the 3D model may respond to it and the 3D model may be rendered againor otherwise updated to reflect those changes.

The shopper may then select one or more AOCs from any suitable sourcesuch as the LRA (e.g., see, FIG. 25, 2523 ) and, in response, theprocess may then set at least one selected AOCs as an SAV. In someembodiments, the SAV may be selected by default in accordance withsystem and/or shopper settings. In some embodiments, the LRA may beprovided in a default screen.

Once an AOC is selected as an SAV, the process may continue to step 2409where the process may render a 3D model of the SAV on a rendering deviceof the system such as on a display of the system. Accordingly, theprocess may obtain DSCI for the SAV from a memory of the system and mayreconstruct this information to render a 3D model 2615 of the SAV in,for example, the display area 2611 of the screen 2600 as shown in FIG.26 .

Referring to the action toolbar 2604 of FIG. 26 , the process may renderinformation associated with the corresponding SAV (e.g., the currentAOC) such as one or more of identification information such as an SUID2602 or other identifying label, corresponding type and/or sourceinformation 2601 (e.g., user owned) that may identify the correspondingAOC, and/or an information selection item 2603.

It is envisioned that the type and/or source information 2601 mayindicate whether the AOC is user owned (as in the current case), vendorowned (and may provide an identifier of the vendor), or a (desiredapparel) or desired AOC (DA), the latter of which may be assumed to bean AOC that has been modified in accordance with input of the shopperwith respect to fitting.

The information selection item 2603 may be selected by the shopper and,in response, the process may provide additional detailed informationrelated to the corresponding AOC such as one or more of DSCI (orportions thereof), such as MI, SUID, alteration history, AAI, matchscore (MS), and/or other associated information. Available informationmay vary by AOC, ownership (e.g., shopper or vendor), and/or whether itis a desired AOC (DA) and upon access rules as may be set by one or moreof the system, vendor, and/or shopper. For example, it is envisionedthat access rules may be associated with the DSCI such that certainusers may have access and/or other users may be subject to one or morepredefined restrictions. Thus, a vendor may place restrictions on AOCsof the vendor such that certain information in the DSCI may berestricted from viewing by the shopper and vice versa.

The 3D model may be adjusted in accordance with various detectedelasticity of the scanned AOC using any suitable mathematicalalgorithm(s). For example, embodiments of the present invention mayemploy complex graphical rendering techniques similar to those employedin video games that use elasticity physics for modeling.

Templetized DigiSizes may be presented to the user depending upon thestyle of the apparel, the user may enter certain key measurements forthe apparel to create desired DigiSizes. These key measurements may bepopulated with a default value as may be selected by the user and/orsystem. When these values are changed, the digiform information may bescaled accordingly.

It is envisioned that the 3D model 2615 may be rendered with a desiredanatomical orientation and/or pose as may be set by the system and/oruser. For example, the 3D model may be rendered in accordance with adefault orientation and/or pose as may be set by the system, vendor, orshopper and stored in a memory of the system for later use. In someembodiments, the system may save orientation information which maydefine a default orientation. In some embodiments, the defaultorientation may correspond with the orientation and/or pose previouslyused (e.g., when the shopper was previously viewing the 3D model).Accordingly, the system may store this information (e.g., as defaultpose or previous pose information) in a memory of the system for lateruse when, for example, it updates the DSCI for the corresponding AOC orupon closing of the APP of the process.

Referring back to FIG. 24 , after rendering the 3D model 2615, theprocess may continue to step 2410 where it may interact with the shopperto view, measure, and/or perform alterations to the 3D model using oneor more software tools as may be discussed below. The shopper may selectany of these modes and the system may interact with the shopperaccordingly.

For example, the shopper may select virtual alteration mode (VAM) inwhich case, the process may provide the shopper with an interface tomake desired alterations to the 3D model (as may be described withreference to FIG. 27 below) and the system may generate correspondingapparel alteration information (AAI) then, during step 2413, the AAI maybe applied to the DSI from which the 3D model was formed to formcorresponding desired-fitting DSI (which, for the sake of clarity, maybe referred to as desired-fitting DSI (DSI_(DF))) which may be similarto the DSI in accordance with the AAI applied thereto. The process mayfurther render a request for a user to enter an identifier such as anSUID to associate with the DSI_(DF). In response to receiving the SUID,the process may associate this SUID with the corresponding DSI_(DF) andform corresponding DSCI which may be stored in a memory of the system inassociation with the SSI for the shopper for later use and may bereferred to as DSCI_(DF) for the sake of clarity.

Accordingly, the 3D model of the desired fitting AOC may be stored as anindependent digiform (e.g., DSCI) with its own SUID in a memory of thesystem. Thus, in some embodiments, the DSI_(DF) may be stored inassociation with its own DSCI in a memory of the system.

In yet other embodiments, the DSI_(DF) may be stored in association withthe original DSI in a memory of the system in association the AAI withthe original DSI. While in other embodiments, the DSI_(DF) may be storedin association with the DSCI of the DSI from which it was formed (e.g.,via the above-referenced alterations). For example, the process may thenassociate the DSI_(DF) with the corresponding DSCI (e.g., of the currentapparel which is the SAV) and may store these in a memory of the system.It is envisioned that the SUID and/or AAI may also be associated withthe DSI_(DF) such that the system may keep track of the SUID and/oralterations (e.g., as represented by the AAI) in time and/or anatomicallocation relative to the corresponding 3D model. Thus, the system mayrender changes made to the 3D model by time and/or anatomical locationon the 3D model. These changes may be rendered automatically and/or inresponse to a request of the shopper. Thus, the DSI may be modified bythe AAI to obtain the DSI_(DF) and vice versa.

For the sake of clarity, it will be assumed that the DSI_(DF) mayinclude changes as indicated in the latest AAI and may be associatedwith the SUID. In yet other embodiments, however, the AAI and/or theSUID may be stored in a memory of the system separately from thecorresponding DSI_(DF) but may be associated with the correspondingDSI_(DF) and/or DSI. It is further envisioned that the process may thenupdate the DSCI in accordance with the DSI, DSI_(DF), SUID, and/or AAIand may store it in a memory of the system for later use. Thus, the DSCImay include DSI and associated DSI_(DF), SUID, and/or AAI. Accordingly,when DSCI is recalled at a later time, the process may rebuild the 3Dmodel from the DSI corresponding with one or more of the SAF and SAF′,and/or may show changes over time and/or anatomical location inaccordance with the AAI.

Referring back to step 2411, to perform these alterations (e.g., thealterations to the 3D model), the process may provide one or more toolssuch as the software tools 2639, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 and whichwill be discussed in further detail below, which may be operative toactivate a corresponding software tool mode. For example, the processmay provide the shopper with a virtual alteration mode (VAM) selectionitem 2639-6 which may be operative to activate the Virtual Alterationmode (VAM) in which the shopper may interact with the process to performalterations on 3D model and save this as a desired fitting 3D model(e.g., corresponding to the DSI_(DF) of a desired fitting apparel (DFA).For example, the process may provide an interface including a pluralityof software tools that may, in response to the shopper's actions,generate or update corresponding AAI which may correspond withalterations performed using the rendered 3D model which may correspondwith the DSI for the SAV. Then the process may apply the AAI to the DSIof the SAV to form DSI for a desired AOC (e.g., the DSI_(DF)) which AOCmay be a virtual AOC and may be referred to as the desired fitting AOC(DFA). The AAI may include all revisions to the 3D model such that ifthe shopper requests to revert back to a previous alteration or to theoriginal size of a corresponding AOC such as the SAV, the process, inresponse, may go back to one or more previous alterations and/or theoriginal form, shape, and/or size of this apparel (e.g., the SAV). Itwill be assumed that the altered version of the SAV may be referred toas the SAV′. In some cases, the SAV′ may be that same as the SAV such aswhen no alterations are performed to the SAV and in other cases the SAV′may be different from the SAV in accordance with the AAI.

After completing step 2413, the process may continue to step 2415 whereit may perform a comparison of a selected AOC of the shopper such as aselected AOC chosen from the group of desired AOC of the shopper, suchas the DSI_(DF), and the DSI of the vendor (i.e., DSI-V that is obtainedfrom the DSCI-V. Accordingly, the process may obtain the DSI of thevendor that was obtained from the VEI and may compare the DSI for one ormore AOCs of the vendor (e.g., subject to search settings) to theDSI_(DF) (which corresponds with a SAV′ which in the present embodimentsis the DFA) for a fit. The results of this comparison (e.g., of the fit)may be referred to as a match score (MS) and may be represented as anumerical value (e.g., shown in percentage match such as 85%, 90%, . . .etc., match). The comparison may compare substantial portions ofcorresponding 3D models (e.g., corresponding to the DSI_(DF) and theDSI-V) or may compare one or more locations on the corresponding AOCs todetermine one or more location-based matches (e.g., a plurality ofvalues) for one or more areas (e.g., of the 3D models based on theircorresponding DSI_(DF) or DSI-V). The results of the theselocation-based comparisons may be represented as a percentage match fora corresponding area such as: waist 95% match, thigh 20% match, pantslength 98% match, etc., or as a graphical result where the results maybe represented graphically as a color, highlighting, color intensity,and/or shading which may be superimposed upon corresponding areas of arendered 3D model corresponding to DSI-V and/or the DSI_(DF) (e.g., theSAV′) The MS may be associated with each AOC of the vendor (or selectAOCs of the vendor) and may be stored in association with thecorresponding DSIC in a memory of the system such as in the SSI or VEIfor later use. Thus, the shopper's Desired digiform (e.g., DSCI_(DF))may be compared with digiform (DSCI-V) of AOCs for sale from the vendor(e.g., a vendor that corresponds with the VEI that was downloaded duringstep 2403) or a plurality of vendors as may be selected by the system,vendor, and/or shopper. To conserve resources, the process may performthis comparison or comparisons among a group of apparel (e.g., a groupof AOCs) that are selected for searching such as AOC of a certain style(e.g., pants, shirts, etc.), vendor (Guzzi, Ezcada, MCMCM, etc.), etc.Thus, for example, the system may perform the comparison using AOChaving of the same apparel type (e.g., such as pants) from a vendor fromwhich the DSCI-V was obtained. After completing step 2415, the processmay continue step 2417.

During act 2417, the process may select at least one AOC with thehighest MS from the VEI for the vendor(s). The selected at least one AOCmay be referred to as MS AOC(s) (MSA(s)). In accordance with someembodiments, if two or more AOC from the VEI have the same matchingscore, a conflict resolution algorithm may be employed to select one ofthese in accordance with system, vendor, and/or shopper settings. In yetother embodiments, however, there may be 1 through G (where G is aninteger, that may be set by the system, vendor, shopper, etc.) AOCs thatmay be selected from the VEI as MSA(s) and may be selected in order oftheir corresponding MSs. In yet other embodiments, one or more AOCs thathave an MS that is greater than a threshold value (e.g., 80% as may beset by the system, vendor, and/or user) may be selected as MSAs. Theselected AOCs from the VEI may have the same style as the SAV′. Thus, ifthe SAV′ is a shirt, the process may determine an MSA from shirts withinthe VEI that was searched such as the VEI of the vendor. Aftercompleting step 2417, the process may continue to step 2419.

During step 2419, the process may render a comparison image such as a 2Dand/or 3D image of one or more selected MSAs (such as the MSA with thehighest score determined above superimposed upon an image generatedusing the DSI_(DF) (e.g., of the SAV′) for the convenience of theshopper. This is illustrated with reference to FIG. 27 which shows ascreenshot of a portion of a digiform comparison mode (DCM) screen 2700in a cross section mode (CSM) generated and rendered by the process inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention.

The screen 2700 may include one or more of a display area 2711, anaction toolbar 2704, an account information area 2791, and a tools menu2741, which may be similar to the display area 2611, the action toolbar2604, the account information area 2691, and the tools menu 2641,respectively, of the screen 2600 of FIG. 26 with different settingsand/or parameters such as activation of a software tool such as theCross-Section mode as illustrated by a highlighting box 2743 around aCross-Section tool selection item 2739-5 in the tools menu 2741. Whenthe Cross-Section mode is active (e.g., on), the system may render a 3Dmodel 2715 corresponding to the DSI_(DF) of the desired AOC for fitting(e.g., the SAV′) as shown in sub-window 2711S of display area 2711 and acorresponding cross sectional view 2715-CS of the 3D model 2715 in thedisplay area 2711. These windows may be swapped using any suitablemethod such as a gesture. For example, in response to a user tapping thesub-window 2711S, the system may swap the display area 2711 and thesub-window 2711S and/or of the rendered images within. Thus, togglingthe views. Depending upon areas of the 3D model (e.g., correspondingwith the anatomy of a body of a user), an areas surroundings can bedetermined and a determination may be made as to whether fabric shouldbe loose/tight around that corresponding area using any suitable methodsuch as statistics, heuristics, or from the database which has theknowledge of relationship between an AOC and how it fits on various bodyparts. Such database or heuristics may be used to determine the context.For example, the database may indicate that a stockings should be tightand that cotton non-stretch pants should be loose around the sameportion of the anatomy (e.g., a thigh, etc.). Thus, the database mayaccount for user settings, system settings, fabric type (e.g., stretch,non-stretch, etc.), clothing type, parameterization values, etc. Thesystem may provide an interface with which the shopper may select one ormore planes 2718 which may intersect 3D models of one or more of theAOCs that are being compared such as the 3D model 2715 of the SAV′(e.g., xy, xz and zy which may substantially correspond with one or moreanatomical planes such as transverse, coronal, and sagittal planes,respectively, in the present embodiment wherein the coronal plane 2718is shown) and/or adjust a position of one or more of these planesrelative the 3D model 2715 such that a desired cross sectional view2715-CS of the 3D model 2715 may be formed and rendered on the screen2700 for the convenience of the shopper. A coordinate system for theplanes may be set automatically by the system and may thereafter beadjusted by the system in accordance with an input of the shopper.

The system may further determine a corresponding cross sectional view2719-CS of a 3D model of the MSA (or a selected MSA) and render thiscross sectional view superimposed upon the cross sectional view 2715-CS(which is a line image) of the 3D model 2715 (which is a line image) asshown in an overlying image 2730. Accordingly, the system may fit the 3Dmodel of the MSA to the 3D model 2715 of the SAV′ such that similarcross sections may be obtained and superimposed upon each other tographically illustrate a fit between the SAV′ and the MSA. Accordingly,the system may further provide an interface with which the shopper mayadjust a relative position between a coordinate system of the planes andthe SAV′. If two or more MSAs are compared to the SAV′ the process mayperform the same actions on each of the MSAs and may superimpose theirrespective cross sectional views upon the cross sectional view 2715-CSas discussed above.

In yet other embodiments, however, graphical methods may be employed toillustrate the determined match between the SAV′ and the MSA for theconvenience of the shopper. In accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention, the process may determine a match score (MS) andrender the MS 2720 as shown using any suitable method(s). Methods toselect, determine, and/or render the MS, are discussed above withrespect to step 2415. An MS settings selection item 2721 may be selectedto view different methods, applications, algorithms, and/or third-partyapplications (third-party plugins, etc.) which may be selected and/oradjusted by the shopper to determine and/or render the MS. In someembodiments, two or more methods may be employed to determinecorresponding MSs and the system may render these MSs for theconvenience of the shopper with identification of methods employed.Accordingly, the system may adjust methods, algorithms, settings, and/orinputs employed to determine the MS in a way that is customizable inaccordance with system and/or shopper settings. It is further envisionedthat in some embodiments, the system may employ a learning method inwhich feedback from a user may be input to adjust methods, algorithms,settings, and/or inputs employed to determine the MS.

In some embodiments when two or more MSAs are selected and in accordancewith system settings, selection items such as corresponding directionalarrows 2745 may be rendered for selection by the shopper. In response toselection of a corresponding one of the directional arrows 2745, thesystem may repeat the rendering and comparisons for each of the MSAs inorder of score such as from lowest to highest or vice versa (dependingupon system and/or shopper settings) in response to selection ofcorresponding ones of the directional arrows 2745.

The action toolbar 2704 may include information related to functionalityof the current screen 2700 as indicated in a functionality area 2740which may include an identifier such as “Compare” which may beindicative of a comparison functionality (CF) mode being active andconfigured to provide functionality to compare at least first and secondAOCs such as the SAV′ and the selected MSA, respectively, with eachother and render the overlying image 2730.

With regard to identification of the AOC being compared, these AOC maybe identified in corresponding areas of the action toolbar 2704 whichmay indicate information associated with a corresponding AOC such astype, source, and identification information 2701-1 (e.g., “Desired” andcorresponding SUID such as comfort jeans) and 2701-2 (e.g., store andcorresponding identifier such as id or stock no.) that may identify thecorresponding AOC such as the SAV′ and the MSA, respectively. Legends2731-1 and 2731-2 may identify the corresponding AOC. Informationselection items 2703-1 and 2703-2 may be selected by the shopper and inresponse the process may provide additional detailed information relatedto the corresponding AOC such as one or more of DSCI (or portionsthereof), such as MI, SUID, alteration history, AAI, match score (MS),and/or other associated information. Similarly, file selection items2705-1 and 2705-2 may be provided selected by the shopper and the systemmay render information related the SSI (e.g., LRA of the shopper) andVEI of the vendor (e.g., an identification of AOCs for sale by thevendor), respectively. The process may provide selection items such as adelete section item 2747, a cart selection item 2749, and an apparelinformation selection item 2751, which in response to selection by theshopper, the system may delete the current MSA (from the listing of MSAthis act may also modify the SSI to indicate that this apparel wasviewed and deleted from listing), add the current MSA to a shopping cartof the shopper, and obtain further information regarding the MSA,respectively.

It is also envisioned that the process may provide a user scoreselection item 2753 in which the shopper may modify this score andsubmit this score as feedback to the system which may then store thisscore in a memory of the system in association with the MS and SSI forlater use. This may be an instant form of feedback. Other forms offeedback, however, are also envisioned.

Referring back to the flowchart 2400, after completing step 2419, theprocess may continue to step 2421 where the process may obtain feedbackfrom the shopper (e.g., user feedback) with regard to one or more AOCssuch as one or more of the MSAs. This feedback may include feedback suchas may be provided when the shopper deletes the current MSA, adds thecurrent MSA to the shopping cart, or views further information regardingthe current MSA. Thus, the feedback may be obtained over a period oftime and may be employed to train the system to the shopper.

In accordance with some embodiments, the process may generate anidentification tag for a corresponding MSA (e.g., the current AOC)and/or shipping and handling instructions which may be used to ship thecorresponding AOC to the shopper for testing. Then, the shopper may scanthe tag and enter further information regarding the corresponding AOCand an application of the system may generate one or more windows forthe shopper to provide further feedback, update the system, provide areview of the corresponding apparel, and/or return the correspondingapparel. Thus, the shopper may easily and conveniently, provide feedbackregarding one or more corresponding AOC. After completing step 2421, theprocess may continue to step 2423.

During step 2423, the process may update one or more of the VEI and SSIin accordance results of the system and/or information received by,generated by, calculated by, determined by, and/or input into thesystem. After completing act 2423, the process may continue to at 2425where it may end.

Referring back to FIG. 26 , with regard to the software tools 2639,these tools may include one or more of a hand tool selection item2639-1; a measure tape tool selection item 2639-2, an elasticity toolselection item 2639-3, a fold tool selection item 2639-4, a crosssection tool selection item 2639-5, and a virtual alteration mode (VAM)selection item 2639-6 (generally 2639-x) each of which may be selected(e.g., by the shopper) to toggle corresponding software tool modes, suchas a hand tool selection mode, a measure tape tool mode (MTTM), anelasticity tool mode (ETM), a fold tool mode (FTM), a cross section mode(CSM), and a virtual alteration mode (VAM), respectively, on (e.g.,active) or off (e.g., not active). Depending upon system configurationand/or settings, one or more of the software tool modes may havedifferent modes and/or settings when other software tool modes areactivated.

When one or more of the software tools selection items 2639-x isselected (e.g., by selecting a corresponding selection item 2639-x orautomatically), the process may, in response, toggle a mode of theselected software tool 2639-x on or off and may highlight the selectedsoftware tool selection item 2639-x accordingly to indicate its statussuch as active (e.g., on) or inactive (e.g., off) using any suitablemethod such as the highlight box 2643 or other suitable highlighting(e.g., color, intensity, contrast, hues, blinking, indicators (e.g.,on/off sliders), etc.) as may be set by the system, vendor, and/orshopper. For example, it is envisioned that any suitable highlightingmay be employed to indicate a status (e.g., on/off, active/inactive) ofa corresponding software tool mode. It is envisioned that when thestatus of certain software tool modes is active, other software toolmodes may be deactivated and inactive until the status of thecorresponding software tool mode is inactive, in accordance with system,vender, and/or shopper settings.

When the hand tool mode is on, the process may rotate, move, or zoom-inor zoom-out in response to corresponding input gestures such as may beinput by the shopper on touchscreen of the system or elsewhere. Forexample, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention inresponse to a sliding gesture (e.g., such as may occur when the shoppermoves a finger across the display area 2611) on at least a portion ofthe 3D model 2615, the 3D model may be moved in a current plane in thedirection of the detected movement of the finger. For example, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention in response to theshopper moving a finger across the display area 2611 in an area that isoff of the 3D model 2615, the process may rotate the 3D model about acorresponding axis of a current coordinate system (as illustrated byarrow 2635) such as about an x axis in response to detected movement ofthe finger in the direction of arrow 2639 and about an z axis inresponse to detected movement of the finger in the direction of arrow2633 of current coordinate system (having x, y, and z axes) asillustrated by arrow 2635. In response to a gesture such as amulti-touch gesture (e.g., a zoom gesture which may be referred to as apinch-out gesture) a pinching-out gesture on the display area 2611, thesystem may zoom-out on a current view of the 3D model 2615 (e.g., byrescaling the rendered 3D model accordingly). Similarly, in response toa detected multi-touch gesture, such as a pinching-out gesture (e.g., azoom gesture) on the display area 2611, the system may zoom-in on acurrent view of the 3D model 2615 (e.g., by rescaling the rendered 3Dmodel accordingly). In some embodiments, the rotate and/or movementgestures may be toggled on or off by tapping on the display area 2611.Thus, the hand tool selection item 2239-1 may be configured to providethe shopper with the ability to rotate, move, and/or zoom in or outusing various touchscreen gestures. In some embodiments, the gesturesmay be mapped to actions in accordance with system, vendor, and/orshopper settings and stored in a memory of the system for later use. Insome embodiments the 3D model 2615 may be coupled to the coordinatesystem and an interface may be provided to relocate the coordinatesystem relative to the 3D model 2615.

When the measure tape tool mode is on (e.g., active), the process maymonitor inputs of the shopper such as gestures and in response, maydetermine one or more of a gesture, a location (or area) of the gesturein relation to the 3D model 2615, and an associated context (e.g.,measurement context such as a linear measurement, a circumferentialmeasurement, etc.). Thus, the system may determine a measurement contextbased upon a selected location relative to the 3D model 3615 and systemsettings such as a measurement context table stored in a memory of thesystem. Accordingly, one or more locations relative to an anatomicalmodel may be mapped by the system, shopper, and/or vendor and the systemmay update the measurement context table accordingly. The system maythen determine measurement context based upon a selected locationrelative it the 3D model 3615 and the mapped-out locations stored in themeasurement context table. Thus, the system may set forth predefinedmeasurement contexts based upon a reference 3D anatomic model to whichinput selections may be matched. In accordance with some embodiments, todetermine context, the system may compare the one or more of thedetermined gesture and/or the current location relative to the 3D model2615, to a reference 3D anatomical model to which one or more ofgesture(s), location(s), and corresponding context(s) may be mapped.Then, the process may determine a match, or a closest match, and thenmay set the context accordingly. Parameters such as location, gestures,and/or contexts of the reference 3D model may be set by the system,vendor, and/or shopper and stored in a memory of the system for lateruse. In some embodiments, the process may use a look-up table orartificial intelligence to determine at least context in accordance withlocation and/or gestures. In yet other embodiments, the shopper maydouble click on the display area 2611 to toggle context (e.g.,circumference, linear length, etc.). Thus, in response to thesedeterminations, the process may determine and/or render measurementscorresponding to the input gesture, location, and/or associated context.Thus, the process may provide various dimensions and parameters of the3D model 2615 in accordance with one or more inputs of the shopper. Thismay provide the shopper with an ability to measure various desireddimensions of the 3D model 2615 using any suitable selection method suchas touchscreen gestures, by moving a pointer, by pointing to a locationon the shopper, and/or on or at actual apparel to select a desired areaor location. For example, in response to selection of a left-thigh area2637 of the 3D model 2615, the system may determine a context (e.g.,circumference) of the selected area (e.g., a thigh, etc.) using anysuitable method. For example, if the selected area is a thigh, theprocess may determine a corresponding context and measurement at theselected area and may render this information as an arrow 2616 depictingcircumference and corresponding measurement information 2617 (e.g.,indicative of actual measurement information of the actual apparel whichwas digiformed). This depiction and measurement may correspond with thedetermined context. For example, if the context relates to a length, theprocess may depict a straight arrow and a corresponding length may becalculated and rendered. The measurement process may be repeated one ormore times. Depending upon system settings (as may be set by the system,vendor, and/or user and stored in a memory of the system), each time anew measurement is taken, the process may discontinue rendering theprevious measurement or may continue to render the previousmeasurement(s) or may stop rendering the previous measurement(s) if, forexample, it is determined that they may interfere with a renderingcurrent measurement. In yet other embodiments, the time a newmeasurement is rendered, the process may or may not discontinuerendering the previous measurement based upon system settings as may beset by the system, vendor, and/or shopper. Information related to thesemeasurements may be stored in memory of the system and rendered by thesystem in response to a request by, for example, the shopper.

Selected areas may be compared with defined context that may be storedin a memory of the system in association with a general location on anAOC and corresponding context such as circumference, length (linear),inseam, neck size, chest size, waist, etc. For example, in response tothe waist being selected, the process may determine a correspondingcontext (e.g., circumference) and may determine circumference (e.g.,waist size) at the waist of the 3D model 3616 and may render thisinformation (e.g., waist size) and in association with a depiction ofthe corresponding measurement (e.g., circumference at waist). In someembodiments, in response to a multi-touch pinch type gesture, theprocess may determine a length and/or circumference depending uponcontext. For example, in response to a pinch from the waist to the endof a pant leg, the system may determine that the context is length andmay determine a linear length across this area.

In some embodiments, the system may respond to a two-finger multi-touchgesture to determine one or more of location, context, and measurement.For example, in response to detecting a two-finger gesture with onetouch at or near the waist and the other touch at or near the end ofpant leg of the 3D model 2615, the system may provide a length of thecorresponding pant leg of the 3D model 2615. Similarly, in response todetecting placement of a finger on waist and another on the end of pantleg, the system may provide a length of the corresponding pant leg ofthe 3D model 2615. Thus, the Measure Tape tool mode may be responsive tosingle touch or multi-touch gestures. Gestures, associated actions,location, context, and/or apparel type may be stored in a memory of thesystem for later use.

It will be assumed that the dimensions of the 3D model 2615 may beindicative of the actual physical dimensions of the scanned AOC fromwhich the corresponding DSCI was derived. In some embodiments it isenvisioned that the process my interpolate and/or may scale to determinedimensions that may represent actual or near actual physical dimensions.Thus, alterations of the 3D model may be represented as actual physicaldimensions and/or parameters (e.g., elasticity). It is furtherenvisioned that the DSCI_(DF) may be employed to form an actual garmentwith the desired shopper size and shape.

Accordingly, in response to selection of an area on the 3D model 2615,such as the thigh area as shown, the process may determine the area anda context of this area and may automatically morph into a correspondingmeasurement. The measure tape tool selection item 2639-2 may be selectedto activate (e.g., toggle on) a measure tape mode (MTTM) that may becontext sensitive and may determine context of a desired measurementbased upon one or more user and/or system settings. For example, whenactivated the MTTM may automatically morph into appropriate measurement(straight line, circular etc.) in accordance with location of the 3Dmodel. For example, when a desired location is at a thigh, the systemmay determine that a circumference of the thigh is desired and themeasure tape tool may morphed into an arrow 2616 at the thigh indicatinga circumference and render corresponding measurement information 2617 atthe corresponding location relative to the 3D model 2615. In someembodiments, the measurement and the corresponding graphic indicator maytoggle between measurements in response to selection (e.g., by tapping,etc.) at a location such as may occur at a waist location relative tothe 3D model where the system may toggle the measure tape tool toindicate measurements related to the corresponding location such aswaist (circumference), inseam, and/or length, which may be determinedand/or rendered sequentially in response to selection (e.g., by tapping)on the waist. One or more of these measurements, however, may bedetermined and/or rendered in response to selection at other areas ofthe 3D model and/or directly by way of a user request (e.g., using acontext-sensitive search such as “what is the waist size?”, etc.).

In some embodiments, tapping on the display area 2611 when the measuretape tool mode is active may morph the measure tape tool betweencontexts such as circumference (or circular) and linear measurementcontexts (e.g., to measure a waist and a length, respectively, or othersuitable area) as may be desired and these measurements may be renderedon the display area 2611 in a location that corresponds with themeasurement for the convenience of the shopper.

With regard to the elasticity tool mode (ETM), when this mode is active(e.g., on), the system may render elasticity information related to the3D model 2615 (e.g., the current apparel). Generally, when theelasticity tool mode is active, the system may, render elasticityinformation about the 3D model on a display screen of the system usingany suitable method such as color-coding a surface of the 3D model toindicate elasticity. For example, a color pallet (e.g., from red toviolet and/or portions thereof) or intensity may be matched to arelative elasticity of the 3D model and applied to a surface of therendered 3D model to graphically indicate corresponding levels ofelasticity at a corresponding location on the surface of the rendered 3Dmodel for the convenience of the shopper. In yet other embodiments,rather than using a color pallet to indicate relative elasticity, theprocess may employ other methods to indicate relative elasticity of anarea on the 3D model such as color coding, color intensity, shading,graphical indicators, and/or highlighting to indicate correspondinglevels of elasticity of the 3D model and applied to the 3D model asdiscussed above. It is also envisioned that the system may determine andrender information related to pressure at different levels of stretchingusing one or more colors to indicate different detected pressures.

When the 3D model is displayed with another 3D model of another AOC,this tool may render a difference in elasticity between these two AOCsunder varying stretching loads using color coding to illustrate thedifference.

Depending upon system settings, when the VAM mode is active, it isenvisioned that the Elasticity tool mode may provide an interface withwhich the shopper may virtually stretch the 3D model at a selectedlocation using any suitable input such as touchscreen gestures and, inresponse, the system may determine expected changes in form, shape,and/or size and/or pressure exerted by the corresponding AOC under suchconditions and render this information in association with the 3D modelfor the convenience of the shopper. For example, in response to apinching-in gesture on the 3D model, the system may increase elasticityand/or shrink the 3D model at a corresponding location. Conversely, inresponse to a pinching-out gesture on the 3D model, the system maydecrease elasticity and/or expand the 3D model at a correspondinglocation. The system may then update corresponding DSCI accordingly.

With regard to the fold tool mode, when this mode is on, the system mayrespond to user inputs and/or gestures to fold, squish and/or rearrangethe 3D model in one or more desired areas and/or positions. Accordingly,the fold tool may provide an interface with which the shopper may fold,compress, and/or rearrange the 3D model in various positions. The foldtool mode may be on (e.g., active or activated) while one or more othersoftware tools 2639 are also on in the modified position.

With regard to the cross section tool, when this mode is on, the systemmay, in response to inputs of the shopper, take a cross section of the3D model 2615 and form a corresponding cross sectional view of the 3Dmodel 2615. Then, the system may render either or both of the 3D model2615 and the cross sectional view in the display area 2611. For example,the system may render the cross sectional view side-by-side with the 3Dmodel 2615 in the display area 2611. The system may provide an interfacefor the shopper to select one or more planes which may intersect the 3Dmodel 2615 (e.g., xy, xz, and zy which may substantially correspond withone or more anatomical planes such as transverse, coronal, and sagittalplanes, respectively, in the present embodiment) and/or adjust aposition of these planes relative the 3D model 2615 such that a desiredcross section may be obtained where the corresponding plane intersectsthe 3D model 2615 and a corresponding cross sectional view of the 3Dmodel 2615 may be formed and rendered on the display for the convenienceof the shopper. This cross sectional view of the 3D model 2615 may berendered as a 2D model. One or more of the software tools (e.g., usingcorresponding software mode) may be switched to a 2D mode such that theystill be operative upon the 2D model similarly to their operation on the3D model 2615.

With regard to the virtual alteration mode (VAM), when this mode is on,the system may interact with the user using a UI of the system such as atouch screen, voice commands, gestures, etc. to perform virtualalterations to the 3D model 2615. In the present embodiments, thesechanges may be saved as a new 3D model and may be referred to as adesired fitting DSI (DSI_(DF)) which may be saved in a memory of thesystem in association with the current user's (e.g., the shopper'saccount such as Samantha's account) such as in the SSI of thecorresponding shopper. These changes may be assumed to capture a desiredfitting for a desired AOC as may be set forth in the DSI_(DF) a may bestored as the DSCI_(DF) in association with, or independently of, theDSCI from which it was derived. The system may further track alterationsto corresponding 3D models and associate these changes to thecorresponding DSCI_(DF) that was at least in part derived from the DSCI.In some embodiments the DSCI may include the DSCI_(DF) or they may bestored separately in the corresponding SSI.

Thus, the DSI_(DF) may represent a desired AOC that may be considered adesired virtual AOC. It is envisioned that the system may further keeptrack of any changes to the original DSI, DSI_(DF), DSCI, and/orDSCI_(DF) as may be desired in the same or separate files.

While several software tools are discussed, it is envisioned that othersoftware tools and/or other software tool modes may be provided as maybe set by the system, vendor, and/or shopper. In some embodiments, thesoftware tools may be selected and rendered or otherwise provided inaccordance with information associated with a corresponding AOC such astype and/or source information 2801 (e.g., Desired, vendor owned,shopper owned, etc.) of the AOC being viewed. Thus, different AOCtypes/sources may have different software tools and/or a differentsoftware tool sets (e.g., a group or subgroup of software tools that maybe activated) available. Thus, software tools for each type of AOC maybe selected by one or more of the system, vendor, and/or provider andmay be stored in accordance with system settings or corresponding DSCIas may be desired.

A screenshot of a portion of a digiform visualization mode (DVM) screen2800 illustrating a rendering of a 3D model 2815 of an AOC in a VAM inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 28. The DVM screen 2800 may include one or more of a display area 2811, anaction toolbar 2804, an account information area 2891, and a tools menu2841, which may be similar to the display area 2611, the action toolbar2604, the account information area 2691, and the tools menu 2641,respectively, of the screen 2600 of FIG. 26 . The present embodimentsmay show activation of different functionality for software tool modeswhen other software tools modes are active. For example, when the MTTMis activate (e.g., turned on) and the VAM is inactive (e.g. off) asshown with reference to FIG. 26 , the MTTM may provide an indication ofa type of measurement (e.g., circumference as indicated by arrow 2616)and a corresponding measurement (e.g., 2617) at the selected locationsuch as the waist 2837 of the 3D model 2815. With reference to FIG. 28 ,when the MTTM and the VAM modes are both active (as illustrated byhighlighting of MTTM and VAM selection items 2839-2 and 2839-6,respectively, as indicated by highlighting boxes 2843 as shown), theMTTM mode may similarly provide an indication of measurement (e.g.,arrow 2816) and a corresponding measurement (e.g., 2617) at the selectedlocation (e.g., in response to the shopper selecting the correspondinglocation) such as the waist 2837, however, the MTTM may now includefunctionality such that the system may now be responsive to change theindicated measurement in accordance with input of the shopper. Forexample, in response to receiving an input gesture (e.g., from theshopper) such as a pinch-type gesture (e.g., in or out) at or near thearrow 2816, the system may adjust the corresponding measurement (2817)accordingly (e.g., increase corresponding measurement for pinch-out-typegestures, and decrease corresponding measurement for pinch-in-typegestures). Here, touchscreen gestures may be employed to stretch thetape indicator 2816 at the waist of the desired apparel (e.g., asindicated by arrow 2837) resulting in a half-inch (e.g., 0.5 inch)increase of that dimension from 29.7 inches to 30.2 inches as shown.Thus, the system may be operative to render either or both of theoriginal dimension(s) and modified dimension(s) after alteration. Thesystem may then be operative to change the 3D model accordingly. In someembodiments, changes may be entered using other input methods such asentry such as a direct keyboard entry and the system may update acorresponding dimension accordingly. After updating the measurement inresponse to a request of the shopper, the system may update thecorresponding DSI accordingly.

It is envisioned that the drawing may be represented mathematicallyusing any suitable function such as a 3D B-spline surface comprising anisoparametric mesh. It is possible to render such a mesh superimposedupon a surface of the body/fabric in a 3D model representing an AOC.Changing the lines in the mesh has the effect of shrinking/stretchingfabric of the 3D model. There may be a direct mathematical relationbetween the isolines and the shape of the surface of the mesh. Thesoftware may render the isolines such that a user may select and movethem on a rendering device of the system such as a display. Accordingly,a CAD software operating in accordance with embodiments of the presentsystem may be employed to perform these actions.

Other alterations may also be made to the 3D model 2815. For example, inresponse to selection of a lower portion of the 3D model 2815 (e.g., ahem as indicated by arrow 2837-2), the system may determine context ofthis area as linear (e.g., as opposed to circumferential) and maygenerate an arrow 2816-2 (e.g., illustrating a linear measurement) and acorresponding measurement 2817-2. In response to an input of the shopper(e.g., using multi-touch gesture(s) such a pinch-type gestures or othergestures), the system may adjust the length of the arrow 2816-2 and thecorresponding measurement 2817-2 accordingly. For example, in thisexample, the shopper has lengthened the 3D model 2815 (e.g., the dress)linearly by 1.5 inches (e.g., +1.5 inches) as rendered by the system tolower the hem of the 3D model 2815 by 1.5 inches. Thereafter, the systemmay update the corresponding DSI accordingly.

Similarly, when the ETM and the VAM are both active (e.g., by selectingan Elasticity tool selection item 2639-3), it is envisioned that the ETMmay provide an interface with which the shopper may virtually stretch orshrink the 3D model 2815 using gestures (e.g., a multi-touch gesture(e.g., pinch-type gestures) such as a pinch-in-type gesture to increaseelasticity and a pinch-out-type gesture to decrease elasticity) atselected location(s) corresponding to the gesture(s) using any suitableinput such as touchscreen gestures and, in response, the system maydetermine expected changes in form, shape, and/or size and/or pressureexerted by the apparel under such conditions (e.g., in accordance withthe elasticity) and render this information in association with the 3Dmodel for the convenience of the shopper. The system may superimpose andrender a 3D mesh 2862 comprising vertices and lines upon the 3D modelwhich may be acted upon when making changes to the 3D model 2815.

Thus, when the VAM is active, certain software tool modes such as theMTTM and ETM may continue to provide contextual measurements and/orenhanced functionality to modify corresponding measurements in responseto inputs from the shopper. Similarly, their corresponding software toolselection items, such as the MTTM and VAM selection items 2839-2 and2839-6, respectively, may be selected to specify the desired alterationsand/or current properties. For example, the MTTM mode may render currentmeasurements and in response to a tap gesture when the VAM mode isactive, the MTTM mode may, in response to an input gesture (e.g. amulti-touch gesture such as a pinch type gesture) alter the currentmeasurements in accordingly.

With regard to the action toolbar 2804, this toolbar may includeinformation associated with a corresponding apparel such as type and/orsource information 2801 (e.g., desired) and associated SUID 2802 (e.g.,“my trip party dress”) that may identify the current apparel (e.g.,which is a virtual apparel in the present embodiments as it is of adesired type). An information selection item 2803 may be selected by theshopper and, in response, the process may provide additional detailedinformation related to the current apparel such as details about thisdesired digiform (e.g., DSCI_(DF)), such as original identification(e.g., original SUID), original digiform (e.g., DSCI), history ofmodifications (e.g., AAI), etc. When changes are made to the currentAOC, the system may render a save selection item 2860 which, in responseto selection thereof, the system may update DSI associated with thecurrent AOC in accordance with these changes. In accordance withembodiments of the present system, if the currently apparel is not adesired apparel, the system may request an SUID and store these changesas a desired AOC (e.g., DSCI_(DF)).

A screenshot of a portion of a digiform visualization mode (DVM) screen2900 in a comments-mode generated and rendered by the process inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 29. The software tool mode may include the comments mode. The commentsmode may be toggled on or off (e.g., active or inactive, respectively)in response to selection of a comments mode selection item 2939-7. Forexample, in response to the shopper selecting the comments modelselection item 2939-7 to activate it, the system comments mode may beactivated. Thereafter, in response to the shopper selecting an area of a3D model 2915 the system may select the corresponding area(s) andcontextually generate area markers 2974-1 and 2974-2 and may provideassociated selection boxes 2973-1 and 2973-2, respectively, in which theshopper may enter one or more comments (e.g., Too tight, reduce elasticpressure; creates excessive creases around armpit) regarding thecorresponding selected areas on the 3D model 2915. Thereafter, thesystem may employ a natural language translator to translate thesecomments and apply them to the 3D model 2915 and update the DSCIaccordingly. An action toolbar 2904 may provide information related tothe 3D model 2915 such as type/source information 2901 identificationsuch as SUID 2902. In response to the VAM being selected, these commentsmay be translated using a context-sensitive search engine andcorresponding design changes may be incorporated into the 3D model 2915.Thereafter the DSIC for the corresponding 3D model 2915 may be updatedaccordingly. Thus, the shopper may also use VAM to specify desiredchanges as a part of providing feedback.

A screenshot of a portion of a digiform visualization mode (DVM) screen3000 in a VAM generated and rendered by the process in accordance withembodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 30 . When the MTTMand the VAM modes are both active (as illustrated by highlighting ofMTTM and VAM selection items 3039-2 and 3039-6, respectively, asindicated by highlighting boxes 3043 as shown), the MTTM mode mayprovide an indication of measurement (e.g., arrow 3016) and acorresponding measurement (3017) in response to selection of a desiredlocation (e.g., in response to the shopper selecting the correspondinglocation) such as a hem 3037 of a rendered 3D model 3015 of an AOC suchas a user owned blue vest as identified in an action toolbar 3004. Thenwhen an estimated customer physique (ECP) mode (ECPM) is active, asindicated by highlight box 3043-8 situated about an ECPM selection item3039-8 in an action toolbar 3004, the 3D model 3015 may be rendered as amesh that may be draped over, or otherwise superimposed upon, an ECP 3Dmodel 3019 for the same or similar type of apparel (e.g., a shirt,pants, vest, etc.) as may be determined by the system. The ECP 3D model3019 may be generated in accordance with ECP model information (ECPMI)that may be stored in a memory of the system as DSCI in association withthe SSI of the shopper and may be recalled by the system from the memoryin response to activation of the ECPM. The ECPMI from which the ECP 3Dmodel 3019 was derived may be updated by the system after each use ofthe system such that it may be trained to a calculated physique of theshopper automatically by the system. By viewing the ECP 3D model 3019with the 3D model 3015 (as a mesh) it may be easier for the shopper tovisualize alterations such as a lengthening of the hem 3037 of the 3Dmodel 3015 by one inch as indicated by the arrow 3016 and thecorresponding measurement 3017. This may provide for an easier methodfor the shopper to make decisions with regard to alterations on the SAFsuch as lengthening of the hem as illustrated. The system may furtherupdate corresponding DSCI_(DF) in accordance with changes or alterationsto the 3D model 3015.

A screenshot of a portion of a screen 3100 incorporating digiformfunctionality generated and rendered by the process in accordance withembodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 31 . Thescreenshot 3100 may include a listing of one or more AOCs 3171 includingcorresponding matching scores (MSs) 3120 that may be arranged in anorder of degree of match, such as percentage match, for clothing (e.g.,AOCs) of a select vendor (e.g., a retailer such as ABC stores). Otherarrangements, however, are also envisioned as may be set by the system,vendor, and/or shopper.

The system may passively or actively select the one or more vendors andoperate in accordance with embodiments of the system. For example, thesystem may communicate with a server of the system to obtain VEI for aselected vendor(s). This communication may occur in response to, forexample: the shopper visiting a website of a vendor in which case thisvendor may be set as a selected vendor; a US of the shopper detected tobe within a threshold distance of an establishment (e.g., retail store,etc.) of a vendor in which case the system may select this vendor as aselected vendor; a request of the shopper to select the vendor (e.g.,give me digiform of MayZees women's shirts, etc.) and, in response thesystem may set this vendor as a selected vendor; an ID tag of an apparelof the vendor being scanned in which case a vendor identified on the IDtag may be set as the selected vendor; or any other suitablecondition(s) as may be set by the system, vendor, and/or shopper. Oncethe vendor is selected, the system may obtain VEI for the selectedvendor from a memory of the system. Thereafter this VEI may be processedto determine one or more matching scores for DSCI for one or more AOCsof the selected vendor in accordance with the DSCI of one or moredesired AOCs of the vendor. The system may thereafter render thematching score(s) in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

In some embodiments, it is envisioned that the system may select one ormore vendors in response to a request from the shopper (e.g., show meall of retail store X's women's shirts that fit me). Location anddistances may be determined using any suitable location device ormethods such as (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS), triangulation,etc.).

For example, in response to a vendor being selected, the system maycommunicate with a memory of the system to obtain the VEI for thisvendor. This VEI may include information related to for one or more AOCsthat the vendor may have for sale with corresponding digiforminformation in accordance with optional parameters or filters that maybe set by the system, vendor, and/or user (e.g., women's shoes, etc.)and which may be stored in the SSI of the shopper. Then, the system maydetermine a matching score (MS) in accordance with a selected digiform(e.g., a desired AOCs DSCI_(DF)) of the shopper for each for each ofthese AOCs. AOCs that are above a threshold matching score (e.g., 94%,etc.) as may be set by the system, vendor, and/or shopper, may berendered for the convenience of the shopper on a rendering device of thesystem such as a rendering device of the shopper's US. To conserveresources, in some embodiments, the system may transmit the SSI of theshopper to a processor of the vendor for processing while in otherembodiments, the system may transmit the VEI from the vendor to the USof the shopper for processing.

If it is determined that the vendor does not have any AOCs for sale withan MS that is greater than a threshold value, the system may inform theshopper (e.g., “Macy'S™ has no clothing with your desired fit at thislocation, etc.). The system may further provide a selection item for theshopper to set a desired threshold level.

In accordance with embodiments of the present system, it should beappreciated that clothing with a desired fit may be recommended withoutshoppers having an understanding of clothing size format (e.g., ofclothing size) and/or being aware of, or remembering, digiforminformation when attempting to find clothing of a desired type and/orfit. Rather, embodiments of the prevent invention may analyze digiforminformation associated with a vendor and the shopper to find a desiredfit for the shopper. More particularly, embodiments of the preventinvention may access the digiform information of a vendor's clothing andmay determine a matching score indicative of a size match between thevendor's clothing and a desired clothing (e.g., AOC) of the shopperwhich may be a virtual AOC. Results of this comparison may be renderedas a graphical comparison on a display of the system for the convenienceof the shopper. In accordance with embodiments of the present system,the results of this comparison may be rendered using a two- orthree-dimensional (e.g., 2D or 3D) representation(s) on a renderingdevice of the system such as on a display of a user station (US) usingone or more overlaying models such as 3D overlaying models. It isenvisioned that information related to a simplified match number such asa match score (MS) which may also be known as a matching score may begenerated by the system and may reflect, for example, a percentage matchbetween the DSC of the tried apparel (e.g., TA) and the correspondingdesired AOC (DA). Embodiments of the prevent invention may provide for auser, such as a shopper, to express desired modifications and/oralterations of one or more AOCs graphically on, for example, a displayof the system. Information related to these desired AOC may then be usedby the system to search for clothing of a vendor that may match theshoppers desired clothing fit.

A detailed front view 3200 of a portion of an AE 3234 in an expandedorientation within an AOC 3251 in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 32 . Apparel couplers 3262 may couplethe AOC 3251 (such as a shirt, etc.) to an APS 3238 which may supportthe AOC 3251. The AE 3234 may receive an OPF from an FDU and may besituated within a cavity of the AOC 3251 having one or more openingssuch as a neck opening 3251N, sleeve openings 3251S, and a hem opening3251H. The AE 3234 may include any suitable pattern that may berecognized by the system, such as a mesh including lines 3234L coupledto nodes or dots 3234D, and may extend beyond the one or more openingsof the AOC 3251 such that the system may capture an image of the AOC3251 and the AE 3238 which may extend therefrom and may employ anysuitable method such as image analysis, artificial intelligence, etc.,to distinguish the AOC 3251 from the AE 3238. Accordingly, the processmay determine a periphery of the AOC 3251 at its one or more openingssuch as the neck opening 3251N, sleeve openings 3251S, and the hemopening 3251H through image analysis techniques. In yet otherembodiments, the system may determine locations at which the AE 3238 maysuddenly increase in size which increase may be indicative of areas inwhich the AE 3258 may extend though an opening of the one or moreopenings of the AOC 3251. Accordingly, the system may determinecorresponding openings and/or a periphery of the AE 3258 using thisinformation.

It is envisioned that a user, such as a shopper in the presentembodiments, may desire to quickly and easily scan one or more AOCs andreceive corresponding MS information in real-time when shopping in aphysical establishment such as a brick-and-mortar (B&M) shop (e.g., aretail store, warehouse or factory facility, and/or the like). This maybe useful when the shopper is searching through racks of clothing for anAOC with a desired fit. Accordingly, embodiments of the present systemmay scan ID tags of AOCs on clothing racks AOCs, determine MSs for theseAOCs, and select AOCs with an MS that is determined to be greater than,or equal to, a threshold value (e.g., 96%, etc.), and render arepresentation of the selected AOCs with their corresponding MSs on a USof the shopper. AOCs with MSs below the threshold value may bediscarded. In this regard, a software tool mode known as a scan mode(SM) may be provided and, when activated (e.g., on) may scan the ID tagsof AOCs, may determine MS information for one or more of the scanned IDtags, and render MS information in association with information relatedto one or more of the scanned AOCs for the convenience of the shopper.An embodiment of an SM in accordance with embodiments of the presentsystem will now be discussed in further detail below with respect toFIG. 33A which shows a perspective view 3300 of a shopper 3301 shoppingusing a system operating in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. A detailed screenshot of a portion of the scan mode (SM)screen 3300B generated and rendered in accordance with embodiments ofthe present system is shown in FIG. 33B. A detailed screenshot of aportion of a digiform comparison mode (DCM) screen 2700 in a crosssection mode (CSM) generated and rendered in accordance with embodimentsof the present invention is shown in FIG. 33C. A detailed screenshot ofa portion of a locate mode screen 3300D generated and rendered inaccordance with embodiments of the present system is shown in FIG. 33D.These Figures will now be described in more detail.

For example, with reference to FIG. 33A, the shopper 3301 may be locatedin a B&M environment such as an apparel store (e.g., MayZees stores inthe current embodiments, etc.) having one or more clothing racks 3353-1through 3353-3 (generally 3353-x) each configured with one or more AOCs3351-x having corresponding ID tags 3393-x. The US 3324 may include anAIDC scanner 3320 configured to read the ID tags 3393-x of the AOCs3351-x when the SM is activated (e.g., on) and the ID tag 3393-x iswithin range or view of the AIDC scanner 3320 (depending upon type ofsensor(s) employed for scanning (e.g., NFC, optical, etc.)). For thesake of clarity, it will be assumed that NFC sensors may be employed inthe present embodiments. In use, the shopper may activate the SM usingany suitable method or methods such as by selecting an SM selection item(SCAN) 3339-9 from a tools menu 3341 rendered on the screen 3300A of theUS 3324. In response to selection of the SM selection item 3339-9, theUS 3324 may activate the SM (as indicated by highlighting box 3343 whichindicates that the SM mode is activated (e.g., on)) and may scan one ormore ID tags 3393-x of one or more corresponding AOCs 3351-x when inproximity to a corresponding ID tag 3393-x. For example, the US 3324 mayscan the ID tags 3393-x when within range of a corresponding ID tag3393-x of the ID tags 3393-x. It is envisioned that selection of the SMselection item 3339-9 may toggle the SM on or off (activated anddeactivated, respectively) and vice versa.

When the SM is activated (e.g., on), the shopper 3301 may swing the US3324 past a plurality of AOCs 3351-x on a corresponding clothing rack3353-x and the AIDC scanner 3320 of the US 3324 may automatically readthe ID tags 3393-x that are in proximity to it. Once an ID tag 3393-x isread, the system may obtain corresponding DSCI from a memory of thesystem such as from VEI of a corresponding vendor as may be identifiedthrough information obtained from the ID tag 3393-x (e.g., MayZeesstores, etc.) and/or from settings stored in a memory of the systemwhich may be set by the system and/or user. In yet other embodiments,the ID tag may include the DSCI in its memory. Thereafter, the systemmay obtain the DSI and MI from the DSCI of the scanned AOC. Each time anID tag 3393-x of a corresponding AOC 3351-x is scanned, the system mayobtain corresponding location information, associate this locationinformation with the MI of the corresponding AOC 3351-x, and/or storethis information in a memory of the system for later use. For example,this location information may be employed at a later time to locationthe corresponding AOC 3351-x in B&M shop. Users such as shoppers orvendors may contribute to the location information which may then beupdated in real time.

It is further envisioned that the system may obtain SSI for the shopper3301 from a memory of the system. This SSI may include informationrelated to desired fitting of AOCs such as DSCI_(DF) (e.g., desiredfitting AOCs of the shopper) from which DSI_(DF) may be obtained. Then,the system may compare the DSI of each of the scanned AOCs with theDSI_(DF) of a corresponding type of apparel (e.g., shirts, pants, etc.)and generate an MS for each of the scanned AOCs. The system may activatea comparison functionality mode each of these comparisons. Thus, if thescanned AOC is a pair of pants, the system may obtain DSCI_(DF) andcorresponding DSI_(DF) for a pair of pants and if the AOC is a shirt,the system may obtain DSCI_(DF) and corresponding DSI_(DF) for a shirt.It is further envisioned that the shopper may select one or more AOCsfrom its LRA for comparison. For example, in the current embodiments, itwill be assumed that only AOCs of a blouse type were scanned and theselected the DSI_(DF) corresponds similarly. It is envisioned that theshopper or system may set default DSCI_(DF) for each time of clothing(e.g., shirts, pants, blouses, skirts, etc.).

Once the MS is determined for each scanned AOC 3393-x, the system maydetermine one or more AOCs 3393-x, which have a MS that is greater than,or equal to, a threshold value (e.g., 96%, etc.) as may be set by thesystem and/or shopper. Then, the system may render information relatedto each AOC 3393-x that is determined to have a MS that is greater thanor equal to the threshold value, such information which may be renderedmay include, for example, one or more of name, price, and/or color(e.g., obtained from the MI) and associated MSs (illustrated as apercent) as illustrated in a list of scanned clothing (LSC) 3323.

It is also envisioned that the system may obtain DSCI-V and determineMSs for AOCs which have not just have had ID tags scanned by theshopper. For example, the system may determine MS for other AOCs (theseAOCs may be referred to as unscanned clothing (e.g., AOCs which have nothad their ID tags just scanned)) that are listed in the VEI of thecurrent vendor and may be of the same type (e.g., blouses, etc.) as theAOCs which have just had their ID tags scanned by the shopper. Then, thesystem may determine one or more unscanned ID AOCs, which have a MS thatis greater than, or equal to, a threshold value (e.g., 96%, etc.) as maybe set by the system and/or shopper. Then, the system may renderinformation related to each of the unscanned AOCs that is determined tohave a MS that is greater than or equal to the threshold value, such asname, price, and/or color (e.g., obtained from the MI) and associatedMSs (illustrated as a percent) as illustrated in a list of unscannedclothing (LUSC) 3395.

An action toolbar 3304 may include information related to functionalityof a current screen 3300A as indicated in a functionality area 3340which may include an identifier such as “SCAN” which may be indicativeof the SM being active and configured to provide functionality tocompare at least first and second AOCs such as a current scanned appareland a selected desired apparel, respectively, and may render andcorresponding identification information 3301-1 (e.g., “MayZees GuzziO”) and 3301-2 (e.g., “desired Red Blouse”) 2701-2, respectively.

The shopper may select one or more of AOCs listed in the LSC 3323 orLUSC 3395 to view further information related to the selected AOC. Forexample, assuming the shopper has selected the GUZZI O Blouse asillustrated by highlighting 3343-1 in the LSC 3323, the system may, inresponse, generate and render a 2D or 3D model of the selected apparelin a suitable mode such as a comparison mode (CM) wherein the 2D or 3Dmodel of the selected AOC may be rendered in relation to a 2D or 3Dmodel of the desired AOC with which it was compared to determine thecorresponding MS as illustrated in the screen 3300B which may be similarto the CM screen illustrated in FIG. 27 .

The system may further render a location selection item in associationwith one or more of the AOCs such as location selection item 3397. Inresponse to selection of the location selection item 3397, the systemmay enter a locate mode (LM) and determine a location of a correspondingAOC in accordance with location information associated with thecorresponding AOC which may be stored in a memory of the system. Then,the system may determine a current location of the MS 3324 of theshopper 3301 and determine and render guidance information such shown inthe screen 3300D which shows guidance information such as arrows 3373which may guide the shopper 3301 to a location of the selected AOC asillustrated in the screen 3300C. The guidance information may bepresented using any suitable method such as a planar map, an augmentedreality (AR) map (as shown) or any suitable map or mapping methods asmay be set by the system and/or shopper or other user. In yet otherembodiments, the map may be generated in accordance with virtual reality(VR) methods.

In some embodiments, the guidance information may be transmitted to oneor more US such as to US of the vendor so that an associate of thevendor may locate the desired rack and/or AOC for the convenience of theshopper. This may be desirable when the AOC may be located in an areathat the shopper may not access such as a stock room and the like.Accordingly, a user (e.g., the shopper and/or vendor) may set a systemconfiguration to provide guidance information to desired USs such as toa US of the shopper and/or to a US of the vendor. Further, the guidanceinformation may be rendered in accordance with access restrictions suchthat it may not guide the shopper to areas that are preferablyinaccessible to the shopper such as a stock room for employees of thevendor. Accordingly, access restrictions may be associated withlocations and/or users.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present system may determine one or moreAOCs which may fit the shopper with a desired fit, render arepresentation of one or more of these AOCs, and may provide guidanceinformation for obtaining the desired AOC in a B&M environment.

It is further envisioned that embodiments of the system may form and/orupdate location information which may be obtained from one or more USsof users of the system and store this information in association with acorresponding AOC. It is also envisioned that embodiments of the systemmay determine a location of a US of a user and a selected AOC and maydetermine and render guidance information to a location of the AOC.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, there isprovided an apparatus to measure digiform of a given AOC. The apparatusmay be configured to capture a highly detailed measurement of anexisting AOC dimensions and/or elasticity as digital data. This data maybe saved as digiform information and may be referred to as digiform. Aprocess of obtaining a digiform from a physical AOC (e.g., a ready-madeapparel) may be referred to as digiforming or a digiforming operation.It envisioned that embodiments of the present system may utilizedigiform information to reduce the number of unsuccessful fitting trialswhich may result in costly returns to a vendor. It is also envisionedthat embodiments of the present invention may interact with a shopper todetermine a desired fit of an article of clothing and may recommend oneor more articles of clothing (AOCs) based upon this desired fit so as toprovide for an enhanced shopping experience while resulting in costreductions for vendors.

Accordingly, embodiments of the prevent invention may provide auser-friendly system that provides for a user such as a shopper toexpress what the user would like in an apparel with few if anyalterations. Embodiments of the prevent invention may generate andrender information which a user may easily view on a rendering device ofthe system using a comparison with an existing familiar AOC. It isenvisioned that the user may interact with the rendered information tocause the system to respond accordingly and generate information whichmay be used to modify and/or generate information which may be used tomodify a digital representation of an existing AOC and/or generate adigital representation of desired AOC. The system may employ simplegraphical interfaces and methods in with which a user may interact toexpress a desired apparel fit using simplified graphical methods (e.g.,gestures) and/or natural language such as “I would like an apparel thatjust fits like this, with half an inch more at the waist.” The systemmay then provide or otherwise recommend an AOC with the correct fitand/or may generate information which may be employed by the system toform a new apparel which may correspond with the input of the user.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, digiforminformation of an AOC that a user has tried on may be employed to aid inthe correct or desired fitment of an AOC to the user. Accordingly, evenwhen a user tries out a new AOC and does not get a desired fit,embodiments of the prevent invention may provide an easy method for auser to express and/or specify what the user needs or otherwise desireswith reference to the digiformed AOC. Such information may be providedby the user as a natural language such as “I need it a bit tighter underthe bust.” Accordingly, the system may employ a natural language engineincluding a voice-to-text (VTT) engine which may perform voice to textprocessing and the like.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the boundaries betweenlogic and circuit blocks are merely illustrative and that alternativeembodiments may merge logic blocks or circuit elements or impose analternate decomposition of functionality upon various logic blocks orcircuit elements. Thus, it is to be understood that the architecturesdepicted herein are merely exemplary, and that in fact many otherarchitectures may be implemented which achieve the same functionality.

Any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality may be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermediary components. Likewise, any two componentsso associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected,” or“operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality.

Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that boundariesbetween the above described operations merely illustrative. The multipleoperations may be combined into a single operation, a single operationmay be distributed in additional operations and operations may beexecuted at least partially overlapping in time. Moreover, alternativeembodiments may include multiple instances of a particular operation,and the order of operations may be altered in various other embodiments.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall notbe construed as limiting the claim. The use of introductory phrases suchas “at least one” and “one or more” in the claims should not beconstrued to imply that the introduction of another claim element by theindefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containingsuch introduced claim element to inventions containing only one suchelement, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “oneor more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an.”The same holds true for the use of definite articles. Unless statedotherwise, terms such as “first,” “second,” etc. are used to arbitrarilydistinguish between the elements such terms describe. Thus, these termsare not necessarily intended to indicate temporal or otherprioritization of such elements. The mere fact that certain measures arerecited in mutually different claims does not indicate that acombination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. As numerousmodifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in theart, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the limitednumber of embodiments described herein. Accordingly, it will beappreciated that all suitable variations, modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the invention and the practical application,and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand theinvention for various embodiments with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for measuring an article of clothing (AOC), comprising: an apparel expander (AE) having at least one expansion chamber matched to a type of the AOC to be scanned and configured to be inserted into at least one cavity of the AOC and to receive an operating fluid (OPF); a fluid distribution unit (FDU) coupled to the AE and configured to control a supply of the OPF to or from the apparel expander; at least one sensor configured to detect contours of the AE when at least a portion of the AE is situated within the at least one cavity of the AOC and form corresponding sensor information; and at least one controller configured to: control the FDU to supply the OPF to the AE to expand the AE when at least a portion of the AE is situated within the at least one cavity of AOC; control the FDU to selectively supply pressure to said AE according to pressure information (PI) for a scanning operation whereby inflation rate and pressure are controlled depending on the type, material, and section of the AOC; obtain the sensor information from the at least one sensor; reconstruct a three-dimensional (3D) model of the at least one AOC based upon the detected contours of the AE obtained from the sensor information; and form digital size information (DSI) including information related to the reconstructed three-dimensional model.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to render the reconstructed three-dimensional model on a rendering device.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to control the FDU to supply the OPF to the AE while simultaneously controlling the at least one sensor to detect the contours of the AE and form the corresponding sensor information.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to control one or more actuators to control a position of the at least one AOC and the at least one sensor relative to at least one of the other of the at least one AOC and the at least one sensor.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to control the FDU to supply the OPF to the AE to expand the AE when it is within the at least one AOC.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to control the FDU to withdraw the OPF from the AE.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to form digital size certificate information (DSCI) comprising the DSI and identification information of the at least one AOC.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least one controller is configured to store the DSCI in association with a profile of a user in a memory.
 9. A method of measuring an article of clothing (AOC), the method controlled by at least one controller, comprising: inserting an apparel expander (AE) having at least one expansion chamber matched to a type of the AOC to be scanned and into at least one cavity of the AOC; detecting contours of the AE using at least one sensor, when at least a portion of the AE is inserted into the at least one cavity of the AOC and forming corresponding sensor information; controlling a fluid distribution unit (FDU) to supply an operating fluid (OPF) to the AE to expand the AE when at least a portion of the AE is inserted within the at least one cavity of AOC; controlling said FDU to selectively supply pressure to said AE according to pressure information (PI) for a scanning operation whereby inflation rate and pressure are controlled depending on the type, material, and section of the AOC; reconstructing a three-dimensional (3D) model of the at least one AOC based upon the detected contours of the AE obtained from the sensor information; and forming digital size information (DSI) including information related to the reconstructed three-dimensional model.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises rendering the reconstructed three-dimensional model on a rendering device.
 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises controlling the FDU to supply the OPF to the AE while simultaneously controlling the at least one sensor to detect the contours of the AE and form the corresponding sensor information.
 12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises controlling one or more actuators to control a position of at least one of the at least one AOC and the at least one sensor relative to at least one of the other of the at least one AOC and the at least one sensor.
 13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises controlling the FDU to supply the OPF to the AE to expand the AE when it is within the at least one AOC.
 14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises controlling the FDU to withdraw the OPF from the AE.
 15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises forming digital size certificate information (DSCI) comprising the DSI and identification information of the at least one AOC.
 16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises storing the DSCI in association with a profile of a user in a memory.
 17. A system for measuring an article of clothing (AOC), comprising: an apparel expander (AE) having at least one expansion chamber matched to a type of the AOC to be scanned and configured to be inserted into at least one cavity of the AOC and to receive an operating fluid (OPF); a fluid distribution unit (FDU) coupled to the AE and configured to control a supply of the OPF to, or from, the apparel expander; a support coupled to the at least one AOC and configured to control a position of the AOC; at least one controller configured to: control the FDU to supply the OPF to the AE to expand the AE when at least a portion of the AE is situated within the at least one cavity of AOC; control the FDU to selectively supply pressure to said AE according to pressure information (PI) for a scanning operation whereby inflation rate and pressure are controlled depending on the type, material, and section of the AOC; obtain the sensor information from at least one sensor configured to detect contours of the AE when at least a portion of the AE is situated within the at least one cavity of the AOC; reconstruct a three-dimensional (3D) model of the at least one AOC based upon the detected contours of the AE obtained from the sensor information; and form digital size information (DSI) including information related to the reconstructed three-dimensional model.
 18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one controller is configured to render the reconstructed three-dimensional model on a rendering device.
 19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one controller is configured to control the FDU to supply the OPF to the AE while simultaneously controlling the at least one sensor to detect the contours of the AE and form the corresponding sensor information.
 20. The system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one controller is configured to control one or more actuators to control the support to position of the at least one AOC relative to the at least one sensor. 